| Wherever you turn nowadays, you see something | | | | Now that you know more of the facts, the question |
| related to solar energy. Whether it be solar panels, | | | | beckons: How do I go solar? Where do I start? |
| gadgets, geysers or pool heaters - you are | | | | There are a number of ways, depending on your |
| bombarded with it everywhere you go. But what is | | | | budget. Here are some of the more popular options: |
| the big hype about? Is it really worthwhile? And how | | | | >>> Save approximately 30% on your electricity bill |
| can you make sense of it all? | | | | by installing a solar geyser. A tad on the expensive |
| Here are some facts to help you: | | | | side initially, but well worth it in the long run. And with |
| 1. Abundant Sun: South Africa is one of the sunniest | | | | Eskom doubling its rebates for solar geyser |
| places in the world. While this might sound like a | | | | installations at the beginning of 2010, this has become |
| travel agent's sales pitch to tourists, it is actually a | | | | a very viable option indeed. |
| scientific fact. When you look at a solar world map, | | | | >>> Heat pumps are also utilised to heat water from |
| three regions stand out in the brightest red: North | | | | your geyser. Heat pumps generate heat by using |
| Australia, North Africa and Southern Africa. | | | | free ambient (air temperature) combined with |
| 2. Green Energy: The sun is the most renewable | | | | electricity to generate heat that in turn heats up your |
| energy source known to mankind. In fact, every | | | | geyser water. Heat pumps are very efficient as they |
| minute enough solar power arrives at the earth's | | | | work on a ratio of 5:1. This means for every 1kw of |
| surface to provide in all our energy needs for a full | | | | electricity used a solar heat pump will generate 5kw |
| year - if it was properly harnessed of course. The | | | | electricity. The electricity saving utilising a heat pump |
| scary part is that only one hundredth of a millionth of | | | | compares favourably with a solar geyser and in some |
| one percent of the sun's energy reaches the earth's | | | | cases a heat pump may even be more efficient. |
| surface! | | | | >>> Install a solar pool heater, and extend your |
| 3. Financial Incentives: Going solar is not just about | | | | swimming season by up to three months. A solar |
| reducing your carbon footprint. Gone are the days | | | | pool heater uses no additional electricity, and can |
| when this concept only appealed to | | | | heat your pool by 4 to 9 degrees. |
| uber-environmentalists. There are now serious | | | | >>> A heat pump although more expensive than |
| financial incentives involved, not only by saving on | | | | solar pool heating panels is another cost effective |
| your energy bill but also getting a government | | | | way of heating your pool - and without the unsightly |
| subsidy for installing energy-saving devices such as | | | | panels on the roof. |
| solar geysers. | | | | >>> Go all the way and get a complete off-the-grid |
| 4. It's Affordable: Solar energy is more affordable | | | | solution by using the sun to generate your household |
| than you probably think. When you look at all the | | | | electricity. A solar system using the sun to generate |
| alternatives solar energy becomes more and more | | | | electricity is typically made up of photovoltaic panels |
| viable every time energy rates go up - and it will be | | | | (PV panels), deep-cycle backup batteries and |
| a long time before energy rates start stabilizing. The | | | | inverters. Generating electricity via PV panels is an |
| average solar geyser can be justified in electricity | | | | expensive exercise and is probably not feasible if |
| savings in less than five years. If you finance one of | | | | your motive is purely to try and run your house |
| these geysers against an existing home loan, you | | | | totally of the grid. |
| might even start saving immediately! | | | | Just a word of warning... The solar industry is |
| 5. It's Versatile: Solar energy has a multitude of | | | | relatively new in South Africa, and many suppliers |
| everyday applications, ranging from expensive solar | | | | have jumped onto the bandwagon to try and make |
| panels and backup battery installations to enable living | | | | a quick buck. A large percentage of these suppliers |
| completely off the grid, to something as simple as a | | | | will not be around in the long run, so be careful to |
| solar cooker for the disadvantaged in rural areas. | | | | research suppliers properly. |