Overview of activities

Non-Residential Sector

SUBSIDY PROGRAM
Introduction and background

One of the main deterrents for introducing energy efficient lighting technologies into the residential sector (across all income groups) was the initial capital outlay required to purchase a CFL which was relatively unaffordable (around R75.00, or US$ 9 at a exchange rate of R8.5 per US$) when compared to an equivalent sized incandescent lamp. To overcome this barrier, BONESA proposed to link a subsidy or retail rebate to ‘kick-start’ or stimulate sales of CFLs in this sector of the market. To facilitate this, partnerships were established with all ELI-approved manufacturers of CFLs, to subsidize the initial high capital cost of these technologies.

The main objectives in this program was to create awareness of the technology and to ‘buy-down’ the price to an affordable level of ~R20.00. This in turn was expected to increase sales volumes to such a level, that the price would be able to be sustained at around those price levels.

The program was well supported by a number of marketing activities from both Bonesa and the suppliers. Advertising was extensively utilised to enhance the interest of the program and ELI.

Results and benefits

An incentive to use the ELI logo on their products and qualify for a subsidy under this component of the program was given accredited manufacturers. This encouraged manufacturers to participate in the subsidy program and ultimately led to the sale of 1,658,949 CFLs during this campaign.

Bonesa and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF) also joined forces to promote the use of energy efficient lighting technologies. Bonesa donated R 1.00 from the sale of each CFL to the NMCF.

RDP HOUSING AND NEW ELECTRIFICATION
Introduction and background

This project was aimed at introducing CFLs in the low-income market in urban areas. It was linked to the government’s housing project – Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP). The RDP program entails providing low cost houses to disadvantaged communities, by municipalities. Since some municipalities were providing RDP householders with very simple and low quality luminaires and incandescent lamps, to reduce energy consumption and safety (many of the luminaires burn out because of the heat produced by the incandescent lamp), it was considered necessary to implement a program to cooperate with municipalities to provide a safer luminaire and a CFL.

The idea was therefore to link up with new electrification projects, recently electrified settlements and other lower income residential consumers. The implementation team proposed to implement a project that would, inter alia, have the following benefits:

• It will have a significant impact on the energy consumption of lower LSMs.
• It will have a relatively quick impact.
• The project will be rolled out at scale, affecting a large number of people in a cost effective manner
• It will test the acceptability and workability of both integrated and split units
• The Service Providers will commit to specifying energy efficient technologies for future electrification projects
• Some, albeit temporary, local employment will be created and skills will be transferred
• The project will create positive publicity for both the Service Providers and Bonesa.

Implementation

The project was rolled out in 8 identified sites from Gauteng, Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal. This was done in partnership with local municipalities.
More than 38,500 CFLs and luminaires were distributed and more than 200 job opportunities were created.

As a result of the implementation, beside the pursuit of the above-mentioned benefits, an enormous general awareness in terms of the advantages of the product (CFL) was raised with the communities and affected municipalities.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Introduction and background

In order for energy efficiency measures to be part of a country’s energy sector it is appropriate that the government be fully engaged and take a leading role. On that note that South Africa government was also engaged, this time to a lead in the implementation of the energy efficiency measures in its own buildings prior to legislating it in its gazette.

As in the commercial sector, the vast majority of public buildings in South Africa are 20 years and older, which obviously have been fitted with outdated and inefficient technologies. These technologies have been maintained in their present state over the years and the opportunity now presents itself to upgrade to newer and more efficient technologies such as Electronic Control Gear, T5 lamps, etc.

Similar to other projects, the aim of this program was to create confidence in the government for energy efficiency measures and investments.

Implementation

Six audits were run, four in government buildings and two in educational buildings, to test the feasibility of introducing efficient lighting. Those audited were:

• Department of Minerals and Energy government building in Pretoria.
• National Electricity Regulator building in Pretoria.
• Johannesburg Civic Center.
• Rural school in Matatiele (Eastern Cape).
• Urban school in Cape Town.

JOHANNESBURG CIVIC CENTER

The Civic Center houses the head office for the Johannesburg Metro Council, including all local and provincial officials. The building has approximately 13 storeys of office space and 3 storeys of parking. In total there will be approx. 5500 fixtures that will be retrofitted.

Following a full implementation of the project, the following results and benefits were obtained, as shown in the table below.

Table 1: Results and benefits of this project.

Council members were extremely impressed with the potential savings that can be achieved from energy efficiency measures. The council expressed its willingness in undertaking energy efficiency measures in all its buildings.
The above pilot project and the subsequent results will be used when targeting other provincial governments.

Other projects

Only one project didn’t reach the implementation stage, the rest did.

Conclusion

The program displayed tremendous potential that exist to upgrade the lighting equipment in the public buildings and the benefits that it can yield.

Industrial market segment
Introduction and background

Bonesa (ELI-RSA) in its endeavor to promote the use of efficient lighting technology and its financial benefits in the South African market implemented a number of projects in various sectors including the industrial sector. Lighting in the industrial sector is a very small component of the overall energy use, in the order of 1%. Lighting is either very specialized or fit for purpose application. As a result, this situation is somehow unfavourable to ELI efforts towards promoting efficient lighting measures, in this sector.

Besides that, a few projects were implemented to promote and establish a case study on usage efficient lighting technology and its long-term financial benefits, in this sector. Two projects were implemented in the mining sector and the other in a manufacturing plant. Audits were conducted at:

1. Sasol Mining – coal mine.
2. Arnott Collieries – coal mine.
3. Playtex – clothing factory.

Sasol Mining

This is one of the mines that participated in the project. The company mines coal for Sasol Refinery, which processes this coal into liquid fuel and chemicals.

A lighting audit was conducted on under ground for one mine that included 15 km of underground galleries. A proposal for upgrading the lighting infrastructure was produced and submitted.

This project posed a couple of technical challenges that required Bonesa to design new fittings, customized for the mining area. Plastic reflectors were installed to increase the light output in the mines so that the wattage of the lamp can be reduced. Electromagnetic control gears were replaced with electronic gear, which reduced losses and subsequently decreased consumption.

The following results were obtained:

Table1: Results and benefits of this project.

Other projects

The Arnott Collieries project was fully implemented, and very positive results were obtained. However, the Playtex Factory project couldn’t reach the implementation stage. The Playtex Group has only one manufacturing plant in South Africa; Bonesa saw no opportunity to create a sustainable efficiency program within this group.