scholarly journals Pandemic and bills: The impact of COVID-19 on energy usage of schools in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.A. Samuels ◽  
Sara Grobbelaar ◽  
MJ Booysen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Office Buildings ◽  
Energy Usage ◽  
Carbon Footprints ◽  
Working From Home ◽  
Global Operations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Base Load

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on global operations and economies. Inadvertently, lock-downs and working from home have reduced the daily carbon footprints of transport and office buildings. A beneficial consequence of these reductions is the ability to measure the differential demand of occupants, to benchmark the base load of these buildings, and identify opportunities for efficiency improvements. In this paper we evaluate the change in energy demand in five public schools in South Africa with changes in occupancy due to the COVID-19-imposed lockdowns.

scholarly journals Assessing the energy and carbon footprints of exploiting and treating brackish groundwater in Cape Town

Water SA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1 January) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aumashvini Gobin ◽  
Debbie Sparks ◽  
John Okedi ◽  
Neil Armitage ◽  
Fadiel Ahjum
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Carbon Footprints ◽  
Water Energy Nexus ◽  
Treatment Mechanisms ◽  
Minimal Treatment ◽  
New Treatment ◽  
Installed Capacity

South Africa has been facing significant challenges in meeting demands in its water and energy sectors in recent years and planning for both sectors has mostly been done separately. The City of Cape Town has started to supplement its dwindling conventional freshwater supplies with groundwater, wastewater and seawater, in light of the drought that commenced in 2015. The Cape Flats Aquifer in Cape Town represents an important resource whose yield could be increased to 85 000 m3/ day through artificial stormwater recharge in the Zeekoe Catchment alone. The abstraction and treatment of this water would require significant amounts of energy and thus this paper explores the links between energy usage in the water sector and its carbon footprint. The three alternatives investigated were ‘centralised’, ‘desalination’ and ‘decentralised’ approaches. The former two are centralised treatment mechanisms to produce potable water utilising existing and new treatment infrastructure, respectively, and the latter proposed minimal treatment for non-potable end-users. The energy intensities of the alternatives were evaluated by identifying energy-intensive components and carrying out a preliminary design of the networks and the required treatment mechanisms. South Africa’s future potential electricity mixes were used to conceptualise the significance of the associated energy demand. The centralised approach’s energy intensity was found to be the lowest of the three, ranging from 1.16 to 1.57 MJ/m3, while those of the decentralised and desalination approaches ranged from 3.57 to 7.31 MJ/m3 and 7.41 to 9.62 MJ/m3, respectively. The Western Cape Water Supply System has an installed capacity of 47.6 MW which could potentially increase by at least 2.7%, 5.7% and 12.3% through the centralised, decentralised and desalination options, respectively. This paper contributes to a growing knowledge on the water–energy nexus in South Africa. 

scholarly journals Energy self-consumption from PV systems: estimations for two office buildings in Krakow (Poland)

2019 ◽  
Vol 100 ◽  
pp. 00030
Author(s):  
Magdalena Jurasz ◽  
Jerzy Mikulik
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Building Energy ◽  
Office Buildings ◽  
Office Building ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
System Operator ◽  
Pv Generation ◽  
The Impact

The analysis presented in this paper focuses on the energetic aspects of the use of photovoltaic (PV) systems in office buildings. Energy generation from PV system has been simulated on an hourly time scale and compared with the energy demand of two office buildings located in Krakow (southern Poland). The buildings’ annual load exceeded 1 GWh in both cases. The analysis dealt with estimating how much energy generated by a PV system can be utilized on-site (self-consumption) and how big the energy surpluses will be (energy generation greater than demand). Capacities of PV systems ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 MW have been considered. Also, the impact of PV generation on the residual load parameters and changes in the maximal monthly and hourly energy demand were investigated. The results show that although the building energy demand is similar (in terms of annual volume of energy consumed) the potential of PV systems to cover it is different. The 100-kW PV system can reduce the observed hourly peak energy demand by 1% in December but by over 30% in June (respectively, from 171 kWh to 169 kWh, and from 333 kWh to 255 kWh). Considering the annual patterns of the office buildings’ energy demand and PV generation (both have their respective peaks in summer), the application of a PV system changes the office building energy demand pattern significantly from the perspective of the power system operator. After installing 500 kW PV in an office building consuming 1 GWh annually, the months with highest demand are no longer in summer but in winter.

scholarly journals South Africa's Journey to Climate Change Regulation: Earthlife Africa Johannesburg v Minister of Environmental Affairs 2017 2 All SA 519 (GP)

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Helen Papacostantis
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Energy Usage ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Economic Growth And Development ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Current Energy

Concerns over climate change are increasingly reaching an urgent level. Many countries have begun focusing their efforts on mitigating its devastating impact. At the same time countries need to ensure their economic growth and development, thus calling for greater energy usage leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions. As the environment struggles to adapt to the rapid changes brought about by climate change, the effects are felt by the most vulnerable of the world's population. Reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have outlined the reasons and the effects of climate change providing actions required to mitigate these effects. Unfortunately developing countries, including South Africa, are the most affected. The current energy system in the country is primarily based on fossil fuels, which emit the greatest amount of greenhouse gases. To ensure that South Africa mitigates the impact, government needs to safeguard and promote sustainable development. To do this South Africa should weigh its energy mix in relation to the environment and the wellbeing of its citizens. A comprehensive and robust regulatory framework on climate change is required thus ensuring the achievement of South Africa's developmental goals well into the future and ensuring participation in the global effort against climate change. Earthlife Africa Johannesburg v Minister of Environmental Affairs 2017 2 All SA 519 (GP) signifies a good start towards the effective regulation of climate change in South Africa.

scholarly journals An assessment of the impact of selected construction materials on the life cycle energy performance and thermal comfort in buildings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Rajesh Haripersad
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Energy Usage ◽  
The Impact

South Africa is a developing country with various construction projects that are being undertaken both by government and the private sector. The requirements for the construction of energy-efficient buildings as well as the selection methods for providing construction materials have hence become important. Energy efficiency improvements needs to be implemented in the construction of these buildings in order to decrease energy usage and costs and provide more comfortable conditions for its occupants. Previous studies revealed that most of the focus for improving energy efficiency in buildings has been on their operational emissions. It is estimated that about 30% of all energy consumed throughout the lifetime of a building is utilized as embodied energy (this percentage varies based on factors such as age of building, climate and materials). In the past this percentage was much lower, but with increased emphasis placed on reducing operational emissions (such as energy efficiency improvements in heating and cooling systems), the embodied energy contribution has become more significant. Hence, it is important to employ a life-cycle carbon framework in analysing the carbon emissions in buildings. The study aims to augment energy efficiency initiatives by showcasing energy reduction strategies for buildings. The study assessed the thermal performance of selected construction materials by analysing different buildings using energy modelling program, EnergyPlus and TRNSYS. The parametric study was set in the central plateau region of South Africa and was performed to determine appropriate energy efficiency improvements that can be implemented for maximum savings. A life cycle cost analysis was performed on the selected improvements. The models created are representative of the actual buildings when simulated data is compared to recorded data from these buildings. Results showed a significant variation in energy and construction costs with varying construction materials over the buildings’ life cycle. Findings suggest that there is a significant reduction in energy usage when simple efficiency measures are implemented. The study recommends the use of different energy efficient building materials and the implementation of passive interventions in the constructing of buildings; the thermal performance of a building be optimized to ensure thermal comfort and the developed model be adopted for use in the engineering and construction industry for the reduction of energy consumption.

scholarly journals A Comprehensive Analysis of Energy and Daylighting Impact of Window Shading Systems and Control Strategies on Commercial Buildings in the United States

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2401
Author(s):  
Niraj Kunwar ◽  
Mahabir Bhandari
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Commercial Buildings ◽  
Office Buildings ◽  
Increase Energy Efficiency ◽  
Occupant Comfort ◽  
The Impact

Commercial buildings consume approximately 1.9 EJ of energy in the United States, 50% of which is for heating, cooling, and lighting applications. It is estimated that windows contribute up to 34% of the energy used for heating and cooling. However, window retrofits are not often undertaken to increase energy efficiency because of the high cost and disruptive nature of window installation. Highly efficient window technologies would also need shading devices for glare prevention and visual comfort. An automated window shading system with an appropriate control strategy is a technology that can reduce energy demand, maintain occupant comfort, and enhance the aesthetics and privacy of the built environment. However, the benefits of the automated shades currently used by the shading industry are not well studied. The topic merits an analysis that will help building owners, designers and engineers, and utilities make informed decisions using knowledge of the impact of this technology on energy consumption, peak demand, daylighting, and occupant comfort. This study uses integrated daylight and whole-building energy simulation to evaluate the performance of various control strategies that the shading industry uses in commercial office buildings. The analysis was performed for three different vintages of medium office buildings at six different locations in United States. The results obtained show the control strategies enabled cooling energy savings of up to 40% using exterior shading, and lighting energy savings of up to 25%. The control strategies described can help building engineers and researchers explore different control methods used to control shading in actual buildings but rarely discussed in the literature. This information will give researchers the opportunity to investigate potential improvements in current technologies and their performance.

scholarly journals Quality Education And The Impact Of Public And Independent Schools Writing The National Senior Certificate

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Nelda Mouton ◽  
Gert L. Strydom
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
South African ◽  
Independent Schools ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Quality Education ◽  
The South ◽  
South African Schools Act ◽  
The Impact

A new education curriculum for a new democratic dispensation was welcomed and unavoidable in South Africa after the first democratic election in 1994. The main reason for this radical change within education was that policymakers needed to move away from the apartheid curriculum with all its attendant political baggage and address the laudable outcomes of skills, knowledge and values for purposes of achieving social justice, equality and development. Within this curriculum, the South African Schools Act (Act 84 of 1996) recognises two broad categories of schools public and independent schools. All public schools follow the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) and independent schools have the freedom to choose which curriculum and which examination body they want their learners to write, as long as the examining body is recognised by Umalusi. This article will reflect on the quality of education provided in schools by analysing the roles and impact of public and independent schools writing the National Senior Certificate in South Africa. It is important, in this context, to provide a historical overview of the background of examination bodies that have impacted on the South African school system. It is also deemed necessary to reflect on and discuss the public and independent school sector by focussing on factors influencing the logistical orientation of these sectors as well as reflecting on indicators influencing the Grade 12 examination. After analysing these factors and reflecting on issues that influence quality education in South Africa, recommendations will be made in an effort to contribute to the improvement of the standard of education in South Africa.

scholarly journals A life cycle assessment of e-books and printed books in South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinesh Naicker ◽  
Brett Cohen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Digital System ◽  
Impact Categories ◽  
Cumulative Energy ◽  
Land Occupation ◽  
Printed Books ◽  
The Impact

This paper presents the results of a study comparing the life cycle environmental impacts and cumulative energy demands of reading printed books (print system) with those of reading e-books from an Apple Air iPad (digital system), with a specific focus on production of books and use of both options in South Africa. The two systems were compared using the ReCiPe midpoint and cumulative energy demand methods. The findings, which are consistent with international findings, demonstrate that the print system has lower impacts than the digital system in the impact categories of freshwater eutrophication, freshwater ecotoxicity, marine ecotoxicity and metal depletion, whilst the digital system has lower impacts in the categories of climate change, ozone depletion, terrestrial acidification, marine eutrophication, human toxicity, photochemical oxidant formation, particulate matter formation, terrestrial ecotoxicity, ionising radiation, agricultural land occupation, urban land occupation, natural land transformation, water depletion and fossil depletion. The major processes contributing to energy demand and environmental impacts of the print system were paper production and printing. For the digital system the major contributing processes were the production of the iPad and e-book reading. Coal-based electricity and coal-miningrelated activities featured prominently in both systems, affecting environmental impacts and energy demand of products and services in South Africa. A change in the electricity mix to be less coal-intensive reduced the impacts of both systems. Finally, the products demonstrate that relatively few additional readers result in printed books becoming preferable to e-books in almost all impact categories, suggesting the need to consider housing print books in libraries to reduce their relative environmental impacts.

Some Reflections on Reparation in Post-Apartheid South Africa, using a Couple Therapy Intervention as a Microcosm of South African Society

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Hill ◽  
Sylvia Poss
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Couple Therapy ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Depressive Position ◽  
Central Hypothesis ◽  
Transference And Countertransference ◽  
Constructive Engagement ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Therapy Intervention

The paper addresses the question of reparation in post-apartheid South Africa. The central hypothesis of the paper is that in South Africa current traumas or losses, such as the 2008 xenophobic attacks, may activate a ‘shared unconscious phantasy’ of irreparable damage inflicted by apartheid on the collective psyche of the South African nation which could block constructive engagement and healing. A brief couple therapy intervention by a white therapist with a black couple is used as a ‘microcosm’ to explore this question. The impact of an extreme current loss, when earlier losses have been sustained, is explored. Additionally, the impact of racial difference on the transference and countertransference between the therapist and the couple is explored to illustrate factors complicating the productive grieving and working through of the depressive position towards reparation.

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