| SOLAR ENERGY USE IN HOME DESIGN | | | | has in other more technologically advanced |
| | | | and environmentally awarecountries. |
| 'The sun is a constant source of energy. | | | | |
| Everyday it provides us with 5000 times as | | | | Also, because the electricity has been so |
| much energy as the whole world needs.' | | | | inexpensive in SA, the cost of paying off a |
| (Unknown) | | | | solar electricity system that provides the |
| | | | same amount (or sufficient amount) of |
| In the 1950s and '60s efficient energy use | | | | electricity as a conventional system, will |
| was often neglected in constructing buildings | | | | take an extremely long time to pay off with |
| and houses, but the high energy prices of the | | | | the money saved without using conventional |
| 1970s changed that. Some buildings built in | | | | electricity, and most home owners in South |
| the 80's use only about 20% of the energy | | | | Africa doesn't stay long enough in one home |
| used in buildings constructed just ten years | | | | to justify the cost saving. |
| earlier. Techniques to save energy include | | | | |
| designing and siting buildings to use passive | | | | Another factor is that the technology is |
| solar heat, avoiding overlighting, and using | | | | becoming more advanced day by day, and one |
| better insulation. A "life-cycle" approach, | | | | might purchase a system today which will |
| which takes into account the total costs over | | | | reach the end of it's life before the system |
| the entire life of the building, rather than | | | | has paid for itself with money saved from not |
| simply the initial construction cost or sales | | | | using conventional electricity is over. |
| price, is encouraging greater efficiency. | | | | |
| | | | Sustainability & the environment |
| SOLAR ENERGY IN SOUTH AFRICA | | | | |
| | | | Eskom might well be one of the cheapest |
| Climate | | | | electricity providers in the world, but it is |
| | | | also a fact that eskom releases some of the |
| South Africa is one of the areas in the world | | | | most pollution in the atmosphere by burning |
| with the highest count of sunny days per year | | | | coal to generate electricity. Although air |
| in the world therefore making it also one of | | | | pollution doesn't seem to be that big a |
| the most appropriate places in the world to | | | | problem here than in other countries where |
| use solar power energy should that be the | | | | acid rain etc. is huge concerns for the |
| only reason for using them. | | | | community, it would be wise to sooner rather |
| | | | than later start to concentrate on the |
| A photovoltaic sell uses the sun's light to | | | | environment in South Africa and that is when |
| create an electric current and not the heat | | | | solar power could start playing a big role as |
| of the sun as is commonly thought. A | | | | an energy provider. |
| photovoltaic sell actually decreases in | | | | |
| efficiency when the sell is heated extremely | | | | Appropriate for us? |
| because of the resistance building up in the | | | | |
| material. Because of the above fact, one can | | | | Solar panels can be used very effectively and |
| see that these photovoltaic panels is | | | | appropriately in the remote areas around the |
| actually less efficient in very warm | | | | country because the cost of connecting to the |
| climates. South Africa, in summertime, can be | | | | conventional power grid by laying cables |
| extremely hot and could cause a photovoltaic | | | | might be even more expensive and once a solar |
| panel on certain summer days to work less | | | | PV system is installed one does not need any |
| efficient although not as significantly as | | | | tools or technicians to maintain a PV panel |
| 25% less efficient as it is said can be lost | | | | regularly. |
| in desert-type climates. | | | | |
| | | | There are a number of places in our |
| Cost efficiency & economy | | | | environment where solar power could be (and |
| | | | are already) used very effectively for |
| Eskom South Africa provides our country with | | | | example water pumps to dams in nature |
| some of the cheapest conventional | | | | reserves. PV panels have also been used to |
| unsustainable electricity costs in the world, | | | | power electric fencing in game reserves very |
| and that is the main reason for solar energy | | | | successfully for interruptions in electricity |
| technology not taking off in South Africa. | | | | is eliminated and big mammals like elephants |
| Although a number of solar thermal panels is | | | | has no chance of breaking through a fence as |
| in operation, even in residential buildings | | | | could be the case in an normal power |
| in the country, photovoltaic panels was up to | | | | interruption. |
| date just not cost effective enough to | | | | |
| justify the money saved using conventional | | | | In conclusion, the use of solar power in |
| electricity for manufacturers making them | | | | South Africa isn't that far fetched when one |
| available on a large scale. Because of the | | | | look at the very appropriate weather |
| uncommonness and unavailability of these | | | | conditions and the need to look at a more |
| panels the prices of theses panels has not | | | | sustainable and renewable energy source for |
| significantly decreased in South Africa as it | | | | the future. |