Minister lights the way

IT takes only one politician to change a light bulb to an energy-saving one, but South African Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk is hoping the example set will inspire millions of South Africans to do likewise.

At an event to “green” his official residence De Meule in Cape Town last week, including installing a solar water heater, insulating existing geysers, and replacing light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps, he said ordinary people could do a lot to help combat climate change. One key area was saving energy, including through the fitting of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) into homes and offices.The minister then proceeded to replace the globes in the foyer of his home – an 18th century national monument – with energy-saving ones.”Fitting one energy-saving bulb will save, over its lifetime, about 430 kg of coal and about 1 100 litres of water that would have been used at the power plant to generate the extra energy needed by the normal bulb.”Van Schalkwyk told journalists the energy saving at De Meule alone was the equivalent of 29 000 litres of water and 11 300 kg of coal a year.There were plans to extend the project to all ministerial residences around the country.He repeated his warning that, over the next few decades, climate change was set to have a profound impact in South Africa, particularly on the country’s agricultural sector.The greening event at the Minister’s home was held three days before the first anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol that came into force on February 16 last year.South Africa is a signatory to the agreement, which is aimed at stabilising the levels of greenhouse gasses responsible for global warming.The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts an average global rise in temperature of 1,4 to 5,8 degrees Celsius between now and the end of the century.- Nampa-SapaOne key area was saving energy, including through the fitting of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) into homes and offices.The minister then proceeded to replace the globes in the foyer of his home – an 18th century national monument – with energy-saving ones.”Fitting one energy-saving bulb will save, over its lifetime, about 430 kg of coal and about 1 100 litres of water that would have been used at the power plant to generate the extra energy needed by the normal bulb.”Van Schalkwyk told journalists the energy saving at De Meule alone was the equivalent of 29 000 litres of water and 11 300 kg of coal a year.There were plans to extend the project to all ministerial residences around the country.He repeated his warning that, over the next few decades, climate change was set to have a profound impact in South Africa, particularly on the country’s agricultural sector.The greening event at the Minister’s home was held three days before the first anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol that came into force on February 16 last year.South Africa is a signatory to the agreement, which is aimed at stabilising the levels of greenhouse gasses responsible for global warming.The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts an average global rise in temperature of 1,4 to 5,8 degrees Celsius between now and the end of the century.- Nampa-Sapa