Awarded across nine major categories, the 2010 Eskom eta Awards, in their 21st year, attracted hundreds of entries from South Africans keen to share their energy saving measures and innovations.
This ranged from commercial and industrial applications for South Africa’s mines and factories, through to power-saving ideas for lower-income areas and homeowners.
South Africa’s energy savers come in many forms – learners wanting to make a difference, householders cutting costs, engineers and large companies working hard to reduce their use of electricity and save vital resources. The eta Awards, sponsored by Eskom and endorsed by the Department of Energy, recognise those individuals and companies who are truly making a difference in terms of using energy efficiently.
In the commercial category, Shared Energy Management won for achieving savings of R4,2 million in the first year and a total of 55 700 MWh since 2006 at the SABC facility in Auckland Park. Beka/Osram won a special award in this category for their highly innovative lighting solution for the 408 m arch at the new Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
The Magnet/Energywise partnership won the industrial category award for their energy cuts at Sappi’s river plant. The installation has managed to save a massive 2 MW and 1 MW in the evening and morning peaks respectively, as well as saving an average of 0,5 MW, without introducing any new peaks in the system. Even more impressive is the payback period of less than two years.
The Geyserwise intelligent energy control system that digitally programs, monitors and controls a geyser’s energy consumption walked off with the honours in the residential category. With 80 000 units installed over the past 24 months, Geyserwise has recorded savings of between 17–50% in both peak shifting and lower energy consumption.
The passion of the Proteus High School from Atlantis in the Western Cape impressed the judges in the young designers category. The group of kids tackled the issue of energy guzzling refrigerators, and went on to educate not only their school but also the rest of the community.
The innovation category was won by the Pick ‘n Pay Longmeadow and Hurlingham projects, which are flagships for the retail industry in terms of holistic approaches to energy efficiency. Shield Technologies developed a system that saves shielding gas consumption for welding by up to 90% – a world first. Jana Jordaan from Parys High School combined a turbine ventilator and an evaporative cooling unit, achieving a temperature reduction of 8°C in a three-storey life-size building without using electricity.
Sisters are doing it for themselves
Special recognition was given to women, with Mahlodi Letswalo and Lehlohonolo Phala from the Tshwane University of Technology taking the prize in the ‘Woman in community’ category. The duo developed a sustainable low-cost house concept in Soshanguve, which has created high interest and buy-in from that community. Meanwhile, the ‘Woman in industry’ category was won by Louise van Tonder from Klerksdorp, who developed a unique, low-cost solar water heater that is made entirely of plastic. It uses no electricity, but rather gravity and solar energy to heat the water.
Finally, in the power fitness category, Nhlanhla Sikosana from Unisa spearheaded a comprehensive awareness campaign for Unisa staff at the main campus in Pretoria as well as the other hubs and campuses – impacting some 4000 people.
For more information visit www.eta-awards.co.za
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