After a careful assessment of the energy and water needs of the 300 pupil boarding school a number of interventions were decided upon in consultation with the school and Imagine Durban. These included: the replacement of electric stoves with gas operated ones; the repair of a heat pump, the installation of as solar hot water system and the installation of low-flow shower nozzles.

The gas stoves are more efficient and cost effective and also reduced the electricity used for cooking. Gas is generally a better alternative to electricity especially for large kitchens such as Kwa Thintwa’s.

Heat Pumps provide a means of using natural heat energy from the environment to supplement existing water heating systems. KwaTinta School’s heat pump uses enrgy from the air to help heat the schools geysers. The heat pump works alongside an evacuated tube solar water heating system. Evacuated tube solar water heating systems is a very efficient technology used to convert sunlight into heat energy. The hot water from the system is used in the school’s geyser’s for showers and baths, and the (27kW) heating element in the heating tank is able to be disconnected.

As a result of these interventions the school is already saving, on average, 3000 kilowatt-hours per month or around R 2 700 per month (and this excludes the water savings). This is equivalent to the electricity used by 5 average households and translates into around R 30,000 savings per annum or a four year pay-back period at today’s electricity prices. The estimation is based on early measurements and higher savings are expected once the systems have been operating for a full year and further tariff increases are applied. A comparison with September last year with the same month this year for example, indicates a saving of nearly 5000 kWh. (See attached graph.)

The interventions at KwaTinta School for the Deaf facilitated by Imagine Durban have made the school a more sustainable and planet friendly institution while also reducing its operating costs. The projects also provide a valuable educational opportunity for sustainable living allowing learners, educators and school management from around KZN to see sustainable technology in action.

An agreement has been signed between UKZN’s School of Mechanical Engineering and Inkanyiso Sustainable Systems (ISS) to share these findings and research outcomes. ISS expects that the research will not only help in acquainting today’s engineering students with the intricacies of wind turbine technology but will also greatly assist the company with the development of its products. ISS has brought together a consortium of like-minded dynamic individuals with unique skills and pro-active vision to form the core of business. ISS recognises that there is a compelling need for short- and medium- term solutions to ameliorate increasing energy, water and food costs at household, municipal and provincial levels. Energy and water shortages now will limit future growth and development opportunities in our local economy.

The products and systems promoted by ISS are designed to be both financially viable and environmentally sustainable. ISS’ objective is not to offer quick fix solutions to what is a long-term problem. Recommended systems will have a direct and indirect effect on improving socio-economic conditions while also reducing or avoiding negative environmental impacts in an integrated model. “ISS views the current energy, water and food security challenges as opportunities to promote and supply a range of sustainable systems to bring long term solutions to market for business, households and ultimately our country and planet.

We promote integrated solutions that directly and indirectly improve socio-economic conditions and avoid negative environmental impacts,” says ISS’ Haydn Osborn. “There is no one overall power or water solution that will solve the energy or environmental issues facing us and our children. Rather, the solution requires an incremental, well planned, long-term and overarching strategy, drawing on a wide range of technologies that will build increasingly independent consumer energy and water capacity that also reduces our overall carbon footprint. This can be achieved in a staged process over the next five to ten years. It is also gratifying to note that eThekweni municipality is developing some strong initiatives in these areas.” concludes Osborn. The wind turbine will be formally handed over to the UKZN School of Mechanical Engineering on 30 September 2009.