The provincial MEC for the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, will engage with key stakeholders, municipal officials, and members of the community during a walkabout on Wednesday, 2 June 2010 at 09h00 to personally assess what impact the installation of the solar water heaters has had on the lives of the recipients in the Darling community.
This project increases the provincially subsidised installations to a total of 1 300 solar water heaters in the households of indigent communities across the Western Cape.
The most recent Solar Water Heater installation project in Darling is a collaborative initiative between the Western Cape provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA's) Urban Environmental Management programme.
The Solar Water Heaters project is part of a series of carbon mitigation initiatives identified as part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Green Goal programme.
Many of the recipients were for the first time afforded the opportunity of having instant hot water in their homes after the installation of the 150 litre, high pressure, flatbed collector solar water heaters. Of the 540 low cost housing units in Darling, a needs analysis was conducted by the municipality to identify the recipients of the 300 units.
The installation of these units significantly impacted on the living environment of the households, while at the same time impacting on the livelihood of 12 community members who were trained to assist with installations during the project, subsequently addressing the skills gap in the solar water heater industry.
One of the trainees has been contracted by the service provider to perform maintenance on the solar water heaters in the community over a contractual period.
Throughout the world, sporting events are now recognised as having a significant environmental impact. The influx of spectators to South Africa will result in the increased consumption levels of food, water and energy sources.
These impacts outline the concerns about the total environmental footprint of this event, particularly with respect to carbon, water, waste and transport.
The Green Goal 2010 initiative at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany represented for the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup that environmental considerations were highlighted.
The overarching aim of the 2010 "Green Goal" programme is to ensure that South Africa as host is portrayed as responsible hosts and that the 2010 FIFA World Cup is a low carbon event.
A conducted study revealed that the estimated carbon footprint of the 2010 FIFA World Cup is more than 896 000 tC02e, with an additional 1.856 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions (tC02e) contributed by international travel.
South Africa is a more greenhouse gas (GHG) intensive economy than many other countries, with electricity being generated from coal instead of renewable energy sources, which gives rise to higher CO2 emissions.
The final footprint estimate report approximates the Western Cape footprint to be 180 000 tC02e. Solar water heating if it replaces fossil fuels or non-renewable biomass will result in a reduction of emissions from those fuels.
Lessons from similar projects show that on average, each household saves at least 900 kilowatt hour for water heating per annum. In emissions terms, this is approximately 1.4 tonnes per year of CO2 emissions.
The solar water heater installation project is one of seven carbon mitigation initiatives completed and was co-funded between the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning and DANIDA contributing fiscal amounts of R1 million and R1.6 million respectively.
The installation of the solar water heaters in Darling is a project that provides benefits beyond the actual time frame of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and includes concerns for post-event environmental, social and economic impacts on the immediate and extended environment.
Projects such as these will ensure that increased environmental awareness and a legacy of sustainability and renewable energy and energy efficiency are entrenched in communities throughout the Western Cape.
Provincial MEC, Anton Bredell, will during the walkabout announce additional funding which will be made available for the further roll out of the project, after which time he will visit the local school with a soccer personality to create awareness on issues of global warming and to encourage learners to support the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup as responsible hosts.
Contact:
Aziel Gangerdine
Tel: 021 483 4643
Cell: 079 401 0687
Fax: 021 483 3211
E-mail: agangerd@pgwc.gov.za
Ms Caitlin Nash
Tel: 021 483 2823
Cell: 084 945 3728
Fax: 021 483 3211
E-mail: cnash@pgwc.gov.za
