Thousands of KZN homes to receive energy saving lamps

Homeowners from KwaZulu-Natal and the country as a whole can look forward to saving on monthly electricity bills.

Eskom has resumed its energy efficiency campaign by distributing over 10-million energy saving lamps across all nine provinces within the next two years.

Commencing in KwaZulu-Natal, the first phase of the programme targets installing 5 million CFLs in five provinces, namely:

• KwaZulu-Natal – 3 000 000
• Western Cape – 800 000
• Eastern Cape – 500 000
• Free State – 500 000
• Northern Cape – 200 000

Demand savings during the first phase are estimated at 155MW, enough to power towns the size of Emnambithi/Ladysmith and Umtshezi/Esctourt in KwaZulu-Natal.

Contact the Eskom Call Centre on 08600 37566 or visit eskom.co.za/idm for full information on the areas to be covered in KwaZulu-Natal.

Eskom-accredited installers – wearing bibs with the words “Free Effiecient Lighting Exchange Project” – will be going door-to-door to swap incandescent light bulbs and spent CFLs for free.

Households will receive leaflets informing them of when installers will be in their area whilst additional information on the programme will be broadcast on community radio stations in the province.

Energy efficiency not only helps to reduce pressure on the national grid, but it also benefits customers in lower monthly bills and a cleaner environment as less coal is burnt to generate electricity.

TAKE NOTE:

• With installation teams having to access homes to do the installations, households should take every precaution to ensure their personal safety.

• Only representatives dressed in clearly marked bibs and carrying Eskom ID cards should be allowed to enter your home.

• Additional safety measures built into the programme are briefing sessions with neighbourhood watch organisations as well as South African Police Stations in your area.

• CFLs can last up to eight times longer that incandescent lamps and save up to 80% on energy use. Millions of people around the world are making the switch to Compact Fluorescent Lamps.

The leaflets informing households of when installers will be in their area will also contain important information on how to safely handle CFLs:

• It is advisable to store new and used CFLs in a non-breakable container or plastic bag – they contain about 5mg of mercury that is almost used up by the time the lamp is ready for disposal.

• Care should be taken to not break a CFL.

• Spent lamps can be disposed of at participating retailers in your area who offer a take-back service and at sign-posted eWaste sites. You can also use a municipal collection service for hazardous waste, which includes batteries, paint and motor oil.