LET’S GO
GREEN to save our planet!
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Saturday 31 July 2021
SUPPLEMENT TO THE WEEKEND POST
Old-school tips for going green takeout containers (or bills) to contend with — we do still eat out though, ‘cause yum.
Eleanor Douglas-Meyers Growing up, I thought being into things like recycling and earth consciousness were only for rich people. I mean lower middle class people like us had more immediate problems so couldn’t be bothered by the polar ice-caps melting in a million years. But thinking back, I realise our oumas (grandmothers) had some very eco-conscious practices going. To them it was just being frugal (money-conscious), but honestly they had been going green before going green was a thing. Here are five of my ouma’s going green practices I am incorporating into my daily life:
4. FANCY DRINKS FROM HOME:
My grandmother would have laughed at me if I ever suggested buying a cup of coffee. She always had her flask of coffee or tea for long drives or to go to work — it was red-checkered if I remember correctly. We have an impressive hot drinks cupboard (if I do say so myself) so I can whip up anything from a chai latte to a ginger chilli tea in the morning and take it with me on the train. It saves so much money and when we do want a fancy coffee on our travels we try to use places that are OK with you bringing your own cups. We also each have a fancy water bottle so don’t have to buy landfill-filling water bottles (we sometimes still do, but much less).
1. PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
I remember my gran being picked up for work by a taxi filled with her co-workers. My husband and I opt to take the train as often as possible. We save money on petrol, our car saves on wear and tear, and walking from and to the train gives our desk-bound behinds some much-needed fresh air.
5. A NEW LIFE FOR EXPIRED DRY INGREDIENTS:
GOING GREEN: Reusing containers for packed lunches and the like
2. REUSING CONTAINERS:
I remember butter containers of rice in our fridge growing up, because my gran would reuse anything with a lid. More often than not our lunches are packed in glass containers that I have opted to reuse instead of get rid of. A jar of salad, a jar of soup ... and
it’s practically free since it came with the jam/pickles/whatever. For my child’s school lunches, I repurpose those plastic containers you get with pesto and hummus and the like. I particularly like the flat square containers as they are nice and
stackable.
3. BAG LUNCHES:
My gran would always make work and school lunches that could rival any shop-bought meal. Buying lunches is so much easier and convenient than lugging food
around, but it is the more economical, healthy and green option. So in the evening we will whip something up (we get most of our prep done on a Sunday) and pop it into bags for the next day. This means we don’t have
My gran believed in waste not, want not, so would try to get use out of every little thing. For me, this often means using expired dry ingredients in crafting...whether it is expired flour or food colour in playdough, expired rice in sensory games and hand warmers or colouring expired lentils for play, I try to get a use out of things. ● This article was adapted from a blog post found on www.justellabella.co.za
Easiest items suitable for recycling BETTER WAY: Instead of going into a landfill site, many items in this messy bin can be recycled
Recycling is an easy way to reuse discarded items and waste. Unfortunately, not everything is recyclable. In fact, some people think that coffee cups and plastic bags can be recycled, when they can’t! The good news is that a lot of items are easy to recycle and some are 100% recyclable!
PET Plastics:
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles are often recycled into other PET items, such as carpeting, packaging, clothing, construction materials and more. PET plastic can also be used when building EcoBricks. Recycling your PET waste is always a good idea, since up to 80% of these bottles end up on landfill.
PAPER TRAIL: The recycling of newspapers is one of the easiest processes. While paper does decompose, this produces a dangerous greenhouse gas, methane
Glass:
Recycling glass is so easy and very rewarding! Glass is a sturdy material and can be reused over and over again, once cleaned. Most household glass can be recycled more than once. Once the glass has lost its use in your kitchen, it can be used to create beautiful pieces of mosaic art and for decorative purposes.
Metal:
Did you know that metals are one of the most recycled materials in the world? Most metals are easily recyclable. The easiest of them all is the aluminium can, which is 100% recyclable. Aluminium
cans can be reprocessed more than once and can even be turned into new cans. In fact, turning aluminium cans into new ones uses 95% less energy, than making a can from scratch.
Newspaper and other paper items:
While most paper and cardboard items can be recycled, the recycling of newspapers is the easiest process. Even though paper does decompose, the decomposition of paper produces a dangerous greenhouse gas, methane. So recycling paper products is quite important. The only paper items that can’t be recycled is paper with glitter or embellishments on them.
Seeking small changes that can make a Big Difference In 2016, SPAR Eastern Cape, launched an ambitious, though possibly naive campaign, aimed at ideally, stopping plastic in their stores. If not that, then at least to slow down the amount of plastic being used in stores, and to create a greater awareness of the threat of Plastic Pollution. The campaign was launched around the introduction of a subsidized Paper Bag, and conversion of using only plastic bags that used re-cycled material, and were in themselves, readily re-cyclable. An aggressive in-store branding campaign, was linked to Bill-boards around the region, involvement in clean ups, and swopshop initiatives where vouchers and food parcels were made available in return for collection of different volumes of returned plastic. Added to this, educational programmes were set up to raise the awareness of Plastic Pollution, based around the mantras of re-thinking, re-using, re-cycling and looking at using alternative options to plastic products. These programmes were all linked to supporting various organizations like SANCCOB, Bayworld, The Zwartkops Conservancy, and Nelson Mandela University, who for years had been fighting this frustrating battle. The Stop Plastic campaign was also linked to various sponsored events where a mouthpiece was created to spread the Plastic Problem message to schools, and communities The results were good. In the 1st year of the campaign, over 3 million less plastic bags were sold through SPAR stores in the Eastern Cape, and the growth of sales of the Paper Bag, was dramatic. Numerous SPAR Retailers took up the cudgels, going to extremes of actually stopping the sale of plastic bags in their stores, or at least not making them visibly available. Sadly, too, there was reaction to this, with many consumers demanding plastic bags, claiming that they wanted them for other uses, and that the Paper Bag was too expensive, or not strong enough for their needs. Compared to the previous year our
CO2 EMISSIONS DECREASED BY 2.9%*
Lessons were soon learned. Clean Ups, while necessary and useful, were not a sustainable option, as the cleaned areas were very soon littered back to where they had been. Clean ups also necessitated further programmes geared around the awareness of “good” plastic i.e., that which can be re-cycled, and “bad” plastic – that which could not be re-cycled. It also became clear that many Corporates were fighting the Plastic Battle in their own little way, Coca Cola stopped the manufacture of their plastic straws and numerous FMCG suppliers introduced re-cycled packaging for their products. But there was little synthesis in joining together to fight a combined battle Realization struck home. Plastic was not necessarily the problem. People were the problem. And fighting the Sustainable Battle is a slow, and expensive battle. But it is a battle in which we all have to involve ourselves. And we all need to work together to spread and action the Stop Plastic message: “From a National perspective the SPAR Group has instituted a dedicated focus areas and personnel geared specifically towards a sustainable drive to protect the environment, under the tagline of the My SPAR Our Tomorrow Banner. This campaign will not only talk to a Plastic Awareness, and a commitment to sustainable / responsible packaging throughout the Supply Chain, but also look at sustainability in terms of saving energy, saving, recycling and reticulating water, finding solutions for food waste, and looking at reducing our Carbon Footprint” We need to listen. We need to stand together, whether we be competitors or colleagues. Our future, the environment is dependent on us. Every small change can eventually make a huge difference to the world in which we live.
SUSTAINING TOMORROW, TODAY
while our business operations continued to grow. *Based on scope 1 and 2 emissions
Facing the multiple global crises of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing food insecurity, SPAR is taking proactive steps towards a better tomorrow. Our sustainability tagline: “My SPAR, Our Tomorrow” is our public commitment to improving the combined future of our business, society and planet. SPAR is on a mission to find long-term economic solutions for a more inclusive society while reducing our environmental impact. SPAR strives to create future-forward food systems that provide safe, affordable and nutritious food for all. We work with our suppliers to ensure that we adopt sustainable farming and procurement practices that support local communities and protect our natural environment: • SPAR Rural Hub initiatives empower small scale, local farmers to enter the formal retail world by equipping them with skills, knowledge and support. • Working in partnership with WWF-SASSI since 2014, in an effort to protect our oceans and its sea life, we have transformed our seafood procurement to ensure sustainability. • SPAR has committed to halving food waste by 2030 while increasing food utilisation and creating secondary food markets. SPAR is embracing tomorrow by reducing its impact on the planet and increasing the sustainability of its operations in line with the National Development Plan and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. As such SPAR is: • Part of the global shift from a linear to a circular economy to ensure our packaging never becomes waste. • Providing 100% recyclable paper carrier bags made from a renewable resource. • Committed to only using 100% recycled and recyclable plastic carrier bags – these have resulted in 4000 tonnes of plastic waste being diverted from landfills annually and a 40% reduction in the carbon footprint of their production. • Aligned with the Paris Agreement to become a carbon neutral organisation by 2050. • Shifting to more renewable energy - we have installed solar panels on all SPAR warehouses and reduced our greenhouse gas emissions. • Committed to reducing water usage year-on-year through investing in water efficient technology as well as collecting and using rainwater and recycled water. • Investing in the clearing of natural waterways, such as the removal of plastic pollution from rivers. Starting with our own organisation, we are working to ensure our actions contribute to the betterment of society, our employees and our planet. As a global retail brand, we acknowledge that we are a part of the problem and therefore need to be a part of the solution.
CREATING A GREENER FUTURE TOGETHER Next time you head out to buy groceries, take a minute to think about the amount of plastic packaging you’re about to encounter. SPAR is on a sustainability journey to eliminate problematic and unnecessary plastic and to design new packaging that is recyclable or reusable. SPAR has implemented waste collection and recycling initiatives as well as environmentally friendly and sustainable business solutions that support our local economy. We are also engaging with our suppliers to explore opportunities to redesign and develop new packaging that is aligned with circular economy principles. We are fundamentally rethinking the way we produce, use and reuse packaging. The SPAR Group is proud to be a part of the global shift from a Linear to a Circular Economy in which plastics and/or packaging never become unnecessary waste. This is why SPAR only provides plastic carrier bags that are made from 100% recycled material, with a minimum of 70% postconsumer waste and are 100% recyclable, with no new plastic added to them. This results in approximately 4000 tonnes of plastic waste being diverted from landfills annually and a 40% reduction in carbon footprint, in the production of the bags. We also introduced paper carrier bags back in 2017 as an alternative to plastic, which are 100% recyclable and made from renewed resource. These new manufacturing initiatives have created much-needed jobs to aid in the sustainability of our economy. At present, there is still reliance on plastic food packaging as it makes products more convenient and easy to use, effectively protects the product, reduces the risk of food theft and tampering, helps to prevent food waste, keeps food fresh, clean and protected from germs. Despite this, SPAR is taking responsibilty for our plastic packaging and have set a goal to make all our packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. We will continue to explore and offer environmentally friendly alternatives to our consumers as we take steps towards a greener, more sustainable future for our planet. In the meantime, we can all do our bit to help by recycling our product packaging, re-using carrier bags and only using recycled and recyclable shopping bags. Another way that SPAR is looking to uplift our economy is through our Rural Hub Initiative. We help small-scale, local farmers to enter the formal retail market by equipping them with the required technical skills and knowledge and other support interventions, including accessing input finance, mentorship and market readiness support. This empowers them for the future and helps to maintain jobs and sustain the economy while creating a food system that provides affordable, nutritious food for all, as well as support for our local farming industry.
COMMITTED TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
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SUPPLEMENT TO THE WEEKEND POST
Saturday 31 July 2021
Working with farmers and communities to create measurable long-term change Against the backdrop of continuously shifting environmental and global consciousness, there’s more awareness than ever of the impact humans have on the world around them. This, coupled with the desire for connection, has caused many to reflect on their choices, specifically how their purchase decisions align to their values. The desire to do good by supporting brands making real change in people’s lives and on the environment, is not new, but the trend has gained serious traction in recent years. Yaa Peprah Amekudzi, country lead of MondelŒ z International’s (the makers of Cadbury) Cocoa Life Programme in Ghana, says there has been continued emphasis on perpetuating virtuous cycles across the value chain. She says while Covid-19 has amplified consumers’ desire to do good, brands have long been relooking their supply chains, with a sweeping shift to stakeholder, not shareholder, primacy. “As cocoa is the essence of our chocolate, creating a sustainable source of cocoa is vital to our business, which is why we strive to ensure it is ‘made right’. “For us, ‘made right’ means addressing the challenges our farmers are facing, like poverty, climate change, gender inequality and limited opportunities for young people. “These issues do not have quick fixes, but it starts with a commitment and really walking the talk to apply holistic solutions,” she said. “In the last 12 years, we’ve gone from working with 100 communities in Ghana as part of the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership to more than 660 communities now registered with Cocoa Life. “Across all six Cocoa Life countries, we’re aiming to work with 200,000 farmers by 2022, affecting over a million people.” “Right now, we’re on the bus with the farmers, as the navigator. “In the near future, we hope to be just a passenger, in an advisory capacity. “That’s when we know we’ve done our work well.”
What’s driving the ‘do gooder’ movement?
Clinical psychologist Suhaila Ameer believes the pandemic has made us reflect on our priorities, right down to our purchasing decisions. “It’s made us crave human connection and ramped up an existing desire to do good. “Research shows the more we do good, the more we want to do good, because there’s a physiological kickback in terms of the neurotransmitters that are released.” “Our brain’s pleasure and reward centre lights up as endorphins are released, which improve health and wellbeing, boost the immune system, prompt calmer dispositions and help to diminish stress. “When applying impact thinking to purchase decisions, we get the instant gratification of getting something we want, plus in the case of programmes such as Cocoa Life, the knowledge that in doing so, we’re also supporting a cocoa farmer and her family, for example. “We want to see the ripple effect of these choices.”
How to Encouraging more people to get ‘the Do Gooder Glow’
Driving sustainability trends
According to Dion Chang, trends analyst and founder of Flux Trends, “2020 changed everything, there’s a huge inflection point in terms of what businesses, society and people want”. “With everyone staying at home over the last year, we all, to some degree or another, had an existential crisis and started reassessing what we’re doing — we did something of a life audit. “There’s a changed consumer mindset in terms of what
motivates purchasing decisions. “At the beginning of 2020, just before lockdown, we can could see we were at a tipping point in terms of sustainability and climate change. “It was building up, but what pushed it over the edge was when people started seeing the physical evidence, from the raging fires in California and Australia, to plagues of locusts in East Africa. “This jolted us.” As consumers become more conscious of environmental effects
on the planet and their knock-on effect this has on communities, especially those who rely on the land for their livelihood, the need to see evidence of the long-term impact of sustainability initiatives becomes even more crucial. “The currency of sustainability has been diluted. “We are at a point where consumers are questioning the validity of the claim and if businesses back up their use of the word, we should see some credibility return.”
Chang goes on to say: “Seeing not a celebrity or influencer’s face, but the face of a real person from the community I’m supporting, would resonate more with me as a consumer. “We want to share in their authentic stories.” Cocoa Life works with cocoa farmers and their communities to create measurable long-term effects — turning cocoa farming into a sustainable business, building inclusive, empowered and resilient cocoa farming communities while protecting and conserving forests. Peprah Amekudzi says: ‘’Simply by choosing Cadbury, consumers are supporting our Cocoa Liferegistered farmers and their families — and in many cases they didn’t even know it. “That’s more than one-million faces, real people. “It’s a true example of impact consumerism in action.’’ ● For more information on Cocoa Life, visit www.cocoalife.org.
Saturday 31 July 2021
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SUPPLEMENT TO THE WEEKEND POST
Recycle packaging to make EcoBricks Let’s go green – one EcoBrick at a time! Did you know that between 12,000 and 15,000 tonnes of snack packaging plastic is used in South Africa each year? EcoBricking is a clever way to get your family into a habit of recycling this everyday waste. EcoBricking is a simple way of recycling that involves throwing your clean, dry waste into a clean, non-biodegradable bottle. These bottles — once filled — are then used as building materials, to create furniture and insulative structures.
How to make your own EcoBricks:
Place a used, clean 2-litre plastic bottle next to your bin or sink to make it easy for your family to fill, as they dispose of their waste. Tip: Since clear PET bottles are usually recycled, coloured PET bottles are a better option when making EcoBricks, since they do not have the same value for recyclers. Instead of throwing wrappers and other clean, dry waste into your bin, your family can pop it into the disposable bottle. Compress the waste by twisting it and applying pressure as you insert it (you can use a stick to do this). You want the first 1-2cm of the bottle to be filled with a solid and full colour. This design will help
EcoBrick users, when designing and building various projects using your bricks. To create your EcoBricks’ bottom colour, choose a soft plastic with a solid colour, ensuring no gaps or spaces on the bottom. The type of waste that can be inserted into your EcoBrick includes polystyrene, fruit and vegetable punnets, wax paper, chips and chocolate wrappers, dog food bags, straws, cellophane, styrofoam and any other type of plastic wrapping. Ensure that your EcoBrick is not packed to overflowing. There should be a 1-2cm gap between the waste inside and the lid of the bottle. Do a pressure check to ensure that your EcoBrick is done. Once the bottle is “unsqueezable” (no space left), the brick is complete. If you can squeeze it by more than 10%, with one hand, it is not ready yet. Tightly pack and compress your waste for best results. Visit the GoBrik App to generate a special serial number for your EcoBrick. You will use this serial number to log your sealed EcoBrick. This will help you to stay accountable and to keep track of the total amount of plastic you’ve kept out of the environment. Log your EcoBrick by jotting down your name, the final
weight of your brick, the date and year, intended project and the serial number generated on the GoBrik App. Don’t forget to use a permanent marker or nail polish to inscribe these details onto the actual brick as well. You’re now ready to create something amazing with your EcoBrick. Or, if you want to drop off your completed EcoBrick, find a drop-off point by visiting the EcoBrickExchange on Facebook.
Drop-off points for EcoBricks across South Africa: ● Gqeberha: Grind Café,
Stanley Street; Greenacres Office Park, 76 2nd Ave, Newton Park; Re-trade Project, Walmer, 22 Newcombe Ave, Walmer Heights. ● Western Cape: Greenpop Nursery, 107 Mountain Road, Woodstock; Hangar 18, Unit 3 Woodbridge Business Park, 452 Koeberg Rd, Milnerton; Faithful-to-Nature, 57 Capricorn Drive, Capricorn; Salt, 136 Main Rd, Fish Hoek; Longbeach Mall, Buller Louw Boulevard, Sunnydale; MFM Radio, Stellenbosch University; Health Connections, No 10 Valyland Centre, 27 Upper Kinrae Cres, Fish Hoek. ● Gauteng: Wecreate, Shop E26, No 10 Van Beek Street, New Maboneng; Mamelodi West Community Hall, 51 Tsweu St, Mamelodi, SA5, Pretoria.
GREEN BRICKS Make your own EcoBricks by stuffing dry waste packaging into a 2-litre PET bottle
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SUPPLEMENT TO THE WEEKEND POST
Saturday 31 July 2021
Building a septic tank in SA — the do-it-yourself approach Are you planning to build a new home and wondering whether and how to build a septic tank? Imagine this for a moment, you have been invited to a friend’s house for ‘house warming’ drinks and on arrival, you are met with a horrible stench in and around the yard. Rightfully embarrassed, said friend greets you and asks that you ignore the pungent smell. He explains the smell started about an hour ago and he thinks it’s coming from the stream outside his back wall. As you walk in the house, overwhelmed by the whiff, you can’t help but think of the earliest possible moment to leave. No-one would ever want to experience a similar fate. So, unless your property is connected to a functional (and maintained) local municipal sewerage system, you may need to install a septic tank system. We will touch on how where to procure septic tanks in SA later in this article. But first let us understand the basics, what is a septic tank? A septic tank system is an on-site sewerage facility. It comprises of an underground chamber made of plastic, concrete or other materials through which waste water is stored and treated.
How to Build a Septic Tank System
Installing a septic tank is quite a costly endeavour. If money is no object, one could go ahead and hire a professional septic tank contractor to design, excavate and
install a septic tank system, but if you are like most of us and want to save money, it’s advisable to build one by yourself as long as you follow all the guidelines. ● Research or seek advice about national or local requirements like the approvals required, waivers etc.
● Determine the estimate cost of
materials and labour required for the job. These include tank size (according to your needs), piping, distribution box, drain field and excavation. ● Decide where the septic tank will be located. Most households have
their septic tanks systems installed in the backyard, under the garage or near the street. You will need to survey your yard and determine the best possible site for it. ● Other considerations to be made at this stage are soil
classification, drain field size and layout. ● Any mistakes made at this stage may be costly to rectify. After this stage, put together a complete plan of your septic tank system comprising of drawings, materials and their costs, chosen site maps and labour requirements. You can then decide to dig the area yourself or get quotes from excavation contractors. There are a number of advantages of installing a septic tank by yourself. The biggest of which is that it saves money. Not only does one not worry about monthly municipal sewerage levies, it also costs less to install. Septic tanks are also a better bet for the environment as they don’t contaminate groundwater as often as the leaky municipal sewerage lines. Another advantage of installing septic tanks in this way is variety. By doing it yourself, it gives you the option to select one based on its strength, durability and low maintenance specifications. Unpleasant smells are a general inconvenience to any neighbourhood. You would not want your home to be the source of a pungent whiff lingering in the area. Whether learning how to build a septic tank or procuring the expert services of the RotoTank team, ensure that your waste management tank is a quality one from the best and largest septic tank manufacturer and distributor in SA. This article was supplied by RotoTank.
Eight easy ways to be water wise at home Luchae Williams
There has been no relief for our looming water crisis and authorities have urged residents to continue to be water smart. I mean, can you imagine not having flushing toilets? If you haven’t begun to conserve water, I urge you to do so now. To help you do this, I’ve put together a bunch of really cool tips on how you can get your household to conserve water.
In the kitchen
1. Keep the sink plugged to collect any extra water which can later be used for rinsing. If you have a double sink, consider leaving a plastic bowl in one of them, to catch any water that can be reused again. 2. When washing dishes, save the water to mop the floor afterwards. Rinse washed dishes in a tub of water which you can reuse to water the garden. 3. Save a small container of water in the fridge to wash fruit in. You can water the garden with it
once you’re done. 4. By using biodegradable paper towels, (and not cloth towels, that may need to be washed afterwards), you can easily save a ton of water. 5. When using a dishwasher, wait until it is fully loaded before switching it on, to conserve energy and to save water.
In the bathroom
1. Save your bathwater and use it to flush the toilet. 2. Only flush the toilet when absolutely necessary. (“If it’s yellow let it mellow”) 3. Use a facecloth to clean your
face, and a small cup of water to rinse your mouth, instead of relying on a running tap. 4. When showering, turn the tap off while washing and turn tap back on to rinse. Don’t forget to take a bucket with you into the shower, to catch any excess water. 5. Your kids’ bath water can also be used to mop floors and wash the car! Don’t forget to check your taps and pipes for leaks. Remember it is our responsibility to help save water and prevent an impending water shortage. ● This article was adapted from a blog post found on www.myspreadsheetbrain.co.za
Saturday 31 July 2021
SUPPLEMENT TO THE WEEKEND POST
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SUN ALWAYS SHINES: The bulk of SA’s electricity in future will come from affordable technologies like solar photovoltaic (PV)
What would SA look like powered 100% by renewable energy? The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are loath to lend funds to utilities and governments that want to build coal power plants. According to the Chamber of Mines of SA, Eskom will close four power stations over the next 10 years, cutting 8,800MW of installed capacity. The result will be 30,000 direct jobs lost and the potential loss of 70,000 indirect jobs. SA needs a renewable power solution. Genergy believes Eskom must be allowed to develop its own renewable energy resources in competition with others while operating in the same field. If the government wants to subsidise renewable energy, Eskom should get the same advantage. If Eskom were allowed to develop its own renewable energy resources and more private organisations invested in the renewable power generation, what would SA look like powered 100% by renewable energy?
Wind and solar
In the future, the bulk of our electricity would come from the most affordable technologies: wind and solar photovoltaic (PV). In areas with the best renewable resources, big wind and solar projects connected to transmission lines will generate electricity. This will power SA’s industry, transport, cities and exports. Modelling by Genergy suggests solar and wind generation can supply up to 90% of SA’s electricity needs. The remaining 10% would be generated by smaller and more experimental renewable energy sources as technological developments allow. SA’s best solar irradiance is in the Northern Cape. The coastal regions have the highest wind potential. These renewable energy zones already have some investment in transmission and distribution, however, further investment is required to harvest these amazing
resources.
Renewable technologies in many locations
In SA, solar and wind farms would be spread across the country, sharing output. In the rainbow nation, the sun always shines or the wind always blows somewhere. The supply gaps will then be filled with a range of on-demand renewables and storage, for example concentrating solar thermal with storage, pumped hydro, batteries and sustainable bioenergy. Renters will join community solar projects and landlords will be required to make properties more energy efficient. When you go to the shopping centre and plug in your electric car, it will be shaded by solar panels.
Everyone can benefit
Genergy believes most of SA’s future energy generation will be local — customer-owned in homes, businesses and communities. This means solar panels on every roof, and batteries in households and commercial buildings. Apartment blocks will have microgrids powered by solar panels and batteries. Renters will join community solar projects and landlords will be required to make properties more energy efficient. When you go to the shopping centre and plug in your electric car, it will be shaded by solar panels.
Demand as important as supply
Future electricity use will be much more dynamic. When the sun is shining or a gale blowing, smart software will send a signal to energy users to turn on their pumps and fill up their batteries. When wind generation is low, batteries will be signalled to turn on. This can deliver reliable grid electricity and lower energy bills — a win-win.
We will also need to use energy much more efficiently, and more than double productivity. Our houses, buildings, equipment, appliances, transport and industrial processes all need to become more efficient.
Poles and wires built only when we need them
Our electricity grid will continue to act as an essential service. However, households and businesses will be incentivised to use local grid infrastructure through revised tariffs and peerto-peer energy trading. While households will draw less electricity from the grid than they do now, the demand for electricity overall will increase. This as a result of powering up domestic transport and industrial processes, ensuring the grid we need is affordable for all. In places where it’s cost effective, edge-of-grid communities will be taken off the grid. As poles and wires become too expensive to maintain for a handful of users, these communities will be powered by renewable microgrids and storage.
Transport goes renewable too
As our grid gets cleaner, it makes sense to take pollution out of our transport and industrial sectors. For instance, transforming our transport sector to make it powered by 100% renewable energy will require mode-shifting to greater public and active transport. In future, heavy transport, such as garbage trucks, are likely to be powered by renewable hydrogen. In the industrial sector, we will see the rise of renewable industry centres. There, heat-intensive industries can access renewable heat from bioenergy, concentrating solar thermal and renewable hydrogen production. These spaces will also be the key locations for SA’s renewable export industries which support
countries in the rest of Africa as well as Asia.
Renewable resilient to extreme weather
While doing our part in cutting pollution helps avert the worst aspects of climate change, we cannot avoid the warming that has already happened. As a result our future electricity system will have to cope with more extreme weather events. If urban and rural areas become disconnected from the national grid, areas need sufficient capacity to power themselves as
stand-alone grids for at least six to 12 hours. The Danish electricity system operator already does this to better manage its system. Such a transition has engineering and policy challenges that need to be addressed. With our smartest minds dedicated to the cause, creating an energy system of the future is already under way. The biggest question that remains is: will we do it at the speed that climate change demands? ● Article supplied by Genergy
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Saturday 31 July 2021
SUPPLEMENT TO THE WEEKEND POST
30 DAY Zero-Waste Challenge Small daily changes really add up DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4
DAY 5
Take the recycling pledge
Learn three new recycling facts
Share what you know
Skip the plastic straw
Carry a reusable water bo le
DAY 6
DAY 7
DAY 8
DAY 9
DAY 10
Recycle plastic bags
Take reusable bags to the store
Tally your trash and recyclables
Do a trash audit
Start a compost bin or bo le
DAY 11
DAY 12
DAY 13
DAY 14
DAY 15
Fix something instead of replacing it
Pack a zero-waste lunch
Explore recycling jobs
Recycle some li er
Recycle ba eries or light bulbs
DAY 16
DAY 17
DAY 18
DAY 19
DAY 20
Play a recycling game
Upcycle a plastic bo le into something new
Make and hang a recycling sign
Take a recycling selfie
Help a friend or neighbor recycle
DAY 21
DAY 22
DAY 23
DAY 24
DAY 25
Properly recycle bo le caps
Recycle something new
Turn an old t-shirt into rags
Clean out the cupboards
Recycle or donate art supplies
DAY 26
DAY 27
DAY 28
DAY 29
DAY 30
Decorate your recycling bin
Make recycled paper
Read a book about recycling
Write a recycling poem, song, or story
Try for a zero-waste trash day