Go solar: The best way to save under the sun

The Western Cape government has launched an initiative to encourage people and businesses to save and generate electricity. Called the Energy Security Game Changer, its aim is to create a cleaner environment and slow down climate change, and to save money at the same time.

If households and businesses invest in green technologies such as solar water heaters and solar photovoltaic panels and reduce their electricity use, then together we can meet the energy challenges of tomorrow.

In our homes, we use most of our electricity for water heating (30%), interior heating (21%), cooking (21%) and lighting (10%), so these are the areas you should target first.

If you want to save money on your electricity bill, an alternative energy source for water heating is a great investment! By installing a solar water heating system, you can save more than 50% on your electricity bill.

A solar water heater uses the radiation from the sun to generate heat, while a heat pump uses a relatively small amount of electricity to extract a lot of energy from the surrounding air.

By installing a solar water heater, a typical household of four will save a third of their electricity bill, and the savings will pay back the cost of the solar water heater in 2-3 years depending on the system.