It seems there is a movement towards making solar heated geysers compulsory in larger more expensive South African houses.In information released by the Department of Minerals and Energy last year they stated that electric geysers will have to incorporate solar heating by 2010 in all new houses larger than 300 square metres, or valued at over R750 000. Also on the table was a switch that would be installed in all electric geysers that would enable Eskom to remotely turn them off.
Not only will residential buildings be targeted but also larger structures like shopping centres, hotels and commercial buildings.
Many people may feel forced into paying for an expensive improvement to their home, but it may be to their benefit in the long run as Eskom has predicted that the cost of electricity will triple by the year 2018.Those of us not entirely reliant on electricity supplied the company will probably be far happier when that time comes.
Solar energy can be used in many different ways in the home and it can be supplemented by Eskom’s supply when the solar supply becomes depleted as the systems can be designed to work in conjunction with one another. Once the system is installed all solar energy is essentially free apart from the maintenance costs of the system and solar panels.
Hopefully this decision allows further technological advancements to be made in the field of solar power so that it becomes even more reliable eventually negating the need to use fossil fuels entirely.
