49M urges youth to be energy efficient

It is now a matter of common knowledge that South Africa’s power supply is constrained.

This makes energy efficiency a must.

49M partner, Eskom is currently investing in new power projects as part of its capacity expansion programme.

Before these projects come on stream, South Africans will have to do with available power.

A combination of tight electricity supply and rising electricity prices make the case for energy efficiency compelling.

Eskom is doing its best to ensure that electricity supply is not disrupted.

By cutting their own electricity consumption, South Africans will save the country from the inconvenience of power supply disruptions.

There is no doubt that energy efficiency is the most cost effective and easiest means to sustainably reduce energy usage.

In addition to ensuring that the lights stay on, adopting energy efficient ways and systems will ensure that South Africa contributes to global climate protection without disrupting economic development and growth.

49M has made a call to all to make energy efficiency their business.

The campaign encourages all South Africans from all walks of life to reduce their energy consumption by at least 10 per cent by simply changing the way they use electricity.

Saving electricity is important to ensure that there is enough power especially during the chilly cold months. It is important to recognise that saving electricity is everyone’s responsibility including young people. In fact the youth are the main drivers of behavioral change. Therefore, young people should be at the centre of energy saving initiatives because they can influence their parents’ habits as well.

For 37 years now, South Africa is associated with the resilience of young people. On 16 June 1976, young people decided to take charge of their destiny. This was an important milestone in the struggle for liberation.

As everyone implement various energy efficiency measures across South Africa, the benefits of inculcating a culture of energy efficiency among young people are too obvious to overlook. South Africa has a growing population of young people. According to Census 2011, almost one in three or 29.6 per cent of the population of South Africa is aged between 0-14 years and a further 28.9 per cent is aged between 15 – 34 years.

There is value in exposing the youth to new easy ways to save electricity.

One of the effective ways of instilling a culture of energy saving is by educating the youth about the value of energy efficiency. This is because, by their nature, young people are open to new ideas and habits. For this reason, the 49M project appeal to young people to be at the centre of energy saving efforts and initiatives.

Young people are well-placed to show the world that it is ‘cool’ to use energy efficient products.

The youth should see themselves as agents of energy efficiency. They have the power to make their communities energy efficient. There is no better time for our future leaders to grasp the concept of a green economy.

As many industries across the world adopt a green standard, future leaders will be expected to appreciate environmental risks and ecological scarcities. Greater efficiency in the use of energy prepares our future leaders for the inevitable shift towards cleaner industries and sectors.