Newsletter Issue 9 September 2019

Project Manager’s Message

In this edition of S&L News, we conclude our recent focus on lighting by celebrating the millionth lightbulb to be recycled as part of our project. We also update you on developments with the Southern African Development Community and the East African Community now taking their first steps towards lighting and appliance efficiency.

In other news, the draft of the proposed amendments to the compulsory specifications for electric hot water storage tanks (VC 9006) was released at a stakeholder meeting held on the 22nd of August 2019. These amendments were primarily informed by the intensive study undertaken by the Centre for Renewable & Sustainable Energy Studies at Stellenbosch University. 

This study focused on the impacts of the regulation on the industry and input received from industry stakeholders – as explained in last month’s newsletter. Interested parties have until 12 September to comment – should you wish to do so, kindly email Langa Jele on Langa.Jele@nrcs.org.za.

The S&L project will now turn its attention to the upwards revision of the MEPS for the appliances falling under VC9008 as presented to industry stakeholders earlier this year. Please look out for invitations or contact me directly if you have any questions.

As Spring now arrives and the season of rejuvenation begins, the project team looks forward to working with renewed energy to build on what we’ve already achieved together with you.

Theo Covary
S&L Project Manager

We dedicated the previous edition to the project’s Residential Efficient Lighting Programme.
Here we highlighted the following:

  • The need for ongoing public awareness about energy-efficient lighting.
  • The need for relevant insight that enables the consumer to make appropriate buying decisions.

We also elaborated on our intention to recycle 1.2 million illegal lamps seized by the regulator as part of the programme.
 
More than a million recycled bulbs. Next target: 1,2 million!
We are pleased to announce that we have broken our million-globe mark! That means we are approaching 1.1 million bulbs now being handed over for recycling at special events around the country. With another 180 000 following suit in the Western Cape, we are well on our way to breaking new records. Project supplier e-Waste Africa is handling the collection and recycling nationally. No crushing is done at the collection sites, as the process requires specialist equipment at the recycling factory in Pietermaritzburg. Here, a special destruction function was held in mid-August, which also included a tour of the facility. This unique event was attended by representatives from various government departments and stakeholders.
 
The recycling process entailed the following:

  • All loads were counted at the collection sites. Bulbs were recounted after transportation and verified at the recycling facility. The NRCS and SARS supervised the entire process.
  • Subsequently, packaging was removed, and the bulbs were immediately recycled.
  • All by-products were beneficiated and reused, and all packaging, including cardboard and corrugated boxes, were also recycled.

A Fresh New Take on an Existing Campaign

Our consumer awareness and education campaign continues. Further online communication elements have been created and released via various social media platforms to herald the arrival of Spring. These can be accessed via the links below. These elements focus on educating potential buyers about lumens as deciders of globe brightness and the energy-inefficiency of high wattage bulbs.

SADC and the EAC Taking up the Baton

The Energy Efficient Lighting and Appliances (EELA) project has now been launched by SADC and the EAC in collaboration with global NGO, CLASP. CLASP, in its own words, “seeks to transform the market for energy-efficient lighting and appliances in the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC)”.

The project is currently in an initial six-month inception and preparatory phase. Further details can be accessed here.

Finally, CLASP recently issued a request for information (ROI), to identify consultants to support policy work in Sub-Saharan Africa.
They will assist in developing and implementing standards for both on-grid appliances and off-grid solar energy equipment. The RFI is
open indefinitely and can be accessed via the link above.

Subscribe Now

“We have to prepare our cities for the increasing scarcity of
resources by increasing their energy efficiency.”
– Mathis Wackernagel