SOLAR: THE NEW SOURCE OF POWER
Whilst alternative forms of energy may be seen purely as an opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint, in South Africa it has become an operational requirement for businesses. Government, parastatals and private companies have all felt the brunt of load shedding and exorbitant hikes in Eskom tariffs.
Ethically, it makes sense for homeowners to ‘Go Green’, but more importantly it can help assist your energy efficiency and cut the costs of your existing consumption.
A reputable an experienced company are able to provide tailor-made solutions for your property, after a comprehensive audit of your Utility Bill. From there, they will draw up a feasibility proposal and report back on methods to lower your consumption, save money and a detailed timeline of when this will be done.
Of course, Residential Developments are unique in that most subscribe to some form of agreement with the Home Owners Association, with regards to uniformity of home design. For this reason, the energy provider should provide a 3D Render of the end result before a homeowner approves it. There needs to be an assurance that the PV modules will not be an eyesore or intrusive (before the neighbours begin typing strongly-worded emails.
For Developers, an added advantage of going green is receiving a Green Star Rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa. Increasing pressure on Eskom has led the state to regulate alternative energy through a tax incentive (once a business or individual has reached a certain threshold for kWh saved annually).
So whether it’s through a central heating system, complete reliance on solar energy or merely feeding excess production back into the grid, there has never been a better time to investigate the benefits of energy optimization. Not only will you be saving the planet, you’ll also save a pile of money.