Solar Is Way Forward

OUR company has in recent years installed a number of solar water heating systems.

We have pledged to conserve our environment because it makes sense to fight for a cleaner world. Our descendants should also be able to live in a healthy environment.The media worldwide have taken up this issue – The Namibian also reported in depth about it.We were pleased with the launch of a study done by Emcon Consulting.It revealed that about 91 000 public buildings in Namibia are equipped with electrical water heaters and that these should be exchanged with solar water heaters in the coming years.This is sensible and could be one of the best decisions ever of the Ministry of Mines and Energy.It will contribute to living in harmony with our environment – even a better life for all us might be dawning.On top of this new employment opportunities will be created.Our recommendation: If all electrical geysers are exchanged promptly and quickly with solar water heaters, a huge amount of capital will be set free.Currently energy is “squandered” in the public sector.The exact amount should be calculated.This amount should then rather be used for building affordable housing, etc eventually also our poorer population will be living in proper brick houses, and we hope this will be soon.Should these not be equipped right from the word go with solar water heating systems? Does anybody have better suggestions? At this point we would like to level some criticism at governing stakeholders – which should be allowed in a democratic country.We have been closely monitoring tenders for more than a year.Strangely enough, none are published.Is there no more money? That would be disastrous.Projects shelved? Why was a study commissioned which brought to light how many millions of N$ could be saved annually.Dear readers, calculations show that you could save at least N$4 800 annually if you install a 200-litre solar water heating system.Due to savings of e.g.N$1 000 per solar water heating system by means of fair competition the public service would have another N$90 million at its disposal.Isn’t that something? The cake for installing water heaters is so large that all of us could have a share (with “we” we are referring to all stakeholders of the solar water heating market).Are contracts awarded underhand? Alternatively, when will these energy devouring electrical water heaters be exchanged – this is overdue.The media in Namibia should follow up on this and poke around for answers.Every day without progress with regard to renewable energies is another day wasted and more energy being generated in controversial nuclear power plants.Solar water heaters are environmentally friendly – we don’t have to pay for sunshine.Solar providers have varying prices.A multitude of different solar water heating systems makes this possible.There are, for argument’s sake, ‘Mercedes’ and ‘Fiat’ types.All are good, if not very good.What does Government order – only Mercedes? Who decides which one is a Mercedes? To end off, a little criticism levelled at all of us.When approximately one year ago all local newspapers began reporting on the energy crisis in Namibia and in Southern Africa the public interest for solar water heating systems was very high.In the RSA business is booming – there people invest and install.Here in Namibia interest has waned.Is this due to the summer and warm water anyhow running out of water pipes? Or is it due to the fact that the media do not continuously arouse awareness? We do not accept the argument that solar water heating is too expensive.The Namibian printed a chart which clearly showed how much money can be saved over years with the installation of a solar water heating system.The sun does not send invoices.The Namibian should at least report once a week on the matter.It should sensitise the population to the fact that a green world is better than a dead one, that financing instruments are available, etc.etc.We look forward to receiving opinions and reactions.Rolf Seiferth [email protected] descendants should also be able to live in a healthy environment.The media worldwide have taken up this issue – The Namibian also reported in depth about it.We were pleased with the launch of a study done by Emcon Consulting.It revealed that about 91 000 public buildings in Namibia are equipped with electrical water heaters and that these should be exchanged with solar water heaters in the coming years.This is sensible and could be one of the best decisions ever of the Ministry of Mines and Energy.It will contribute to living in harmony with our environment – even a better life for all us might be dawning.On top of this new employment opportunities will be created.Our recommendation: If all electrical geysers are exchanged promptly and quickly with solar water heaters, a huge amount of capital will be set free.Currently energy is “squandered” in the public sector.The exact amount should be calculated.This amount should then rather be used for building affordable housing, etc eventually also our poorer population will be living in proper brick houses, and we hope this will be soon.Should these not be equipped right from the word go with solar water heating systems? Does anybody have better suggestions? At this point we would like to level some criticism at governing stakeholders – which should be allowed in a democratic country.We have been closely monitoring tenders for more than a year.Strangely enough, none are published.Is there no more money? That would be disastrous.Projects shelved? Why was a study commissioned which brought to light how many millions of N$ could be saved annually.Dear readers, calculations show that you could save at least N$4 800 annually if you install a 200-litre solar water heating system.Due to savings of e.g.N$1 000 per solar water heating system by means of fair competition the public service would have another N$90 million at its disposal.Isn’t that something? The cake for installing water heaters is so large that all of us could have a share (with “we” we are referring to all stakeholders of the solar water heating market).Are contracts awarded underhand? Alternatively, when will these energy devouring electrical water heaters be exchanged – this is overdue.The media in Namibia should follow up on this and poke around for answers.Every day without progress with regard to renewable energies is another day wasted and more energy being generated in controversial nuclear power plants.Solar water heaters are environmentally friendly – we don’t have to pay for sunshine.Solar providers have varying prices.A multitude of different solar water heating systems makes this possible.There are, for argument’s sake, ‘Mercedes’ and ‘Fiat’ types.All are good, if not very good.What does Government order – only Mercedes? Who decides which one is a Mercedes? To end off, a little criticism levelled at all of us.When approximately one year ago all local newspapers began reporting on the energy crisis in Namibia and in Southern Africa the public interest for solar water heating systems was very high.In the RSA business is booming – there people invest and install.Here in Namibia interest has waned.Is this due to the summer and warm water anyhow running out of water pipes? Or is it due to the fact that the media do not continuously arouse awareness? We do not accept the argument that solar water heating is too expensive.The Namibian printed a chart which clearly showed how much money can be saved over years with the installation of a solar water heating system.The sun does not send invoices.The Namibian should at least report once a week on the matter.It should sensitise the population to the fact that a green world is better than a dead one, that financing instruments are available, etc.etc.We look forward to receiving opinions and reactions.Rolf Seiferth [email protected]