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