Overview of activities

Education

ELI-RSA SCHOOLS PROGRAMME

Background

2001 saw a brief introduction of the ELI-RSA Schools Programme/project. An intensive roll out was experienced in 2002 following the appointment of an implementing agency - Protec (a well renowned non-profit making organisation specialising in Maths, Science and Technology projects).

The project was mainly introduced at Grade 7-9 learners undertaking Natural Science subjects. The project material was developed coherently with the Education Department’s Curriculum 2005 policy document and in supported of the Outcome Based Education system. The minister of Energy and Environment by means of a foreword statement in the books also accredited education manuals.

Teaching aid materials were provided to participating schools at a zero cost. Materials included comprehensive manuals, for both teachers and learners, on energy efficiency and efficient lighting, and lighting kits, for class demonstration.

Among others, the objectives of the project included:

• Lobby for the recognition of Energy Efficiency concept with the Education Department to be included the National Science Curriculum;
• Create awareness on energy efficiency and efficient lighting technology in the market; and
• Highlight the link between electricity usage and wealth, environment, etc. as well as the impact and benefits thereof.

Various marketing communication tools were employed to promote the project and increase voluntary participation of schools in the project. This included advertising, direct marketing, public relation and involvement in selective academic events that were electricity and science related.

The ELI-RSA’s efforts, with this project, were full fully rewarded with a full recognition of energy efficiency as an important learning topic by the National Education Department. This is reflected by its inclusion in the 2002 Revised National Curriculum Statement - Natural Science - under the heading of core knowledge and concepts in Energy in the Energy & Development in RSA section.

To learners and teachers, the project was a ‘real-world’ experience providing a big picture of energy-use behavioural effects to the environment and the economy. In so doing, the project also promotes lifelong energy efficiency practice amongst the current and future electricity users (particularly the youth).

ELI-RSA TERTIARY PROGRAMME

Like the Schools project, the Tertiary Programme is purely academic by nature and targeted towards academic institutes, to compliment the schools at tertiary level. The project was aimed at providing technical and factual efficient lighting information to students, as future specifiers, within the broad engineering field.

Prior to the introduction of the project, a preliminary feasibility survey was conducted to obtain their support for the project and to determine the implementation requirements. Relatively positive responses were received from the study. Institutions that supported the initiative included University of Cape Town and Pretoria University. Some institutions displayed their support (towards ELI) by further including the lighting component in their learning modules and projects, on informal basis.

Direct marketing as well as public relations was predominantly used to promote the project to both tertiary institutes and professional organisations. Direct marketing involved one-on-one consultation with different institutions. A lighting competition - Luminaire Design Competition was conducted. The competition was targeted at both tertiary academic and professional institutions, as well as individual professionals. The aim of the competition among others was to promote career development in lighting design.

Learning from the entries received for the luminaire competition, lighting as a specialist career in RSA has a long way to go, i.e. to become a fully-fledged area of specialization. Tertiary project had an important role to play to the formation of such a career from an energy efficiency perspective as a global trend.

The project was subjected to a number of unfavourable circumstances from the education sector that impeded the implementation of the project. To address such impediments, an implementation alliance with a credible engineering organisation was established to increase the credibility and acceptance of the project.

In a nutshell, the project never realised full implementation as intended due to some complexities in the tertiary education sector. Barriers include:

• Bureaucracies within institutions (i.e. within universities, technikons and colleges) towards the introduction of new topics in their curricula;
• Expensive financial support and engineering equipments required for implementation,
• Attitude towards private companies bringing projects to schools; and
• Lack of trust against ELI-RSA and the project.

   

  School´s learner guide

CAPACITY BUILDING IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY

Introduction and background

Conducting a lighting audit is one of the most important components in a Lighting Efficiency Retrofit. This activity was normally outsourced to private firms, as Bonesa (ELI-RSA) did not have the in-house capacity to undertake these audits.

Bonesa teamed up with an Industrial Partner, Natal University, and the Energy Efficient Research Laboratory, to create a program in the training of electrical engineering students. This was aimed at creating sustainability in the market through capacity building, awareness creation and general education development.

The University, on behalf of Bonesa applied to the Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP), for a 1:1 funding, whereby Bonesa contributing R300, 000.00 and THRIP contributed R300, 000.00. The program was rolled on a national scale, as managed by the Natal University and the University of Pretoria. The program was introduced in the two universities and at Peninsula Technikon, Western Cape.

Training Programme

The capacity building training program was as follows:

• Phase 1:
  - Theory Session - Introduction to the principles and fundamentals of lighting.
  - Site Training - Conducting of lighting audits by the students.
  - Report - tabulating of the audit findings in a report format
• Phase 2:
  - Training of the students by the Institute of Lighting Engineers (ILESA) on a course on Interior Lighting Design.
• Phase 3:
  - To eventually make this program part of the overall engineering curriculum.

Results and benefits

The initiative benefited all academic institutes that participated, by contributing to their curricula and providing skills development. The use of students provided Bonesa with the additional tools in creating a team to conduct the lighting audits.

77 students underwent full training, and conducted lighting audits under the supervision of qualified personnel. These students have become aware of the benefits of using efficient lighting and have acquired valuable expertise and knowledge that will be helpful in the job market.