Month: September 2022

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Solar Power

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SOLAR POWER?

An image of the sun (What are the benefits of Solar Power?)
What are the benefits of Solar Power?

Solar power harnesses the energy of the sun and converts it into electricity.  It’s an option that more and more people are investigating these days.  The constant load-shedding in South Africa has left many people desperate and willing to explore and invest in solar power.  But what exactly are the benefits of solar power?

1. IT TAKES THE STRESS OUT OF LOAD-SHEDDING

Load-shedding has been part of our lives for a number of years in South Africa.  However, the stress of it has only escalated.  We all know the stress and frustration of trying to navigate our lives around load-shedding schedules.  In particular, it’s very trying to deal with appliances that don’t work, having no access to the internet and sitting in darkness.

However, with Solar power, there are now alternatives.  And this is excellent news for us as South Africans.  Even for those on a tight budget, there are an array of products available that can at least alleviate some of the stress of load-shedding.  

2. SOLAR POWER IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

This is such an important benefit of solar power.  We all know that the earth is in a desperate state.  As a result, it’s up to each one of us to do all we can to protect the earth and our natural resources.  

Burning coal for electricity damages our environment because it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.  This has detrimental effects on climate change.  By contrast, solar power is sustainable and it’s a renewable resource which does zero damage to the environment. As a result, it’s a complete win-win!

3. IT SAVES YOU MONEY ON YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL

There is an initial financial outlay to set yourself up with solar power.  However, you will save money by not paying a monthly electricity bill. As a result, the money you lay out initially can be recouped over time.

We have all watched with rising horror how the price of electricity just keeps soaring.  And it’s not set to stop anytime soon.  Consequently, people are being forced to look into alternative sources of power.  

So many people are feeling the pinch these days.  Therefore, any savings on an electricity bill are well worth it.  As a result, it’s absolutely essential to consider investing in Solar power.  

4. IT INCREASES THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY

Potential buyers will definitely be more attracted to buying a property equipped with Solar power.  They will be drawn by the benefit of saving money each month on their electricity bill and having a tool to combat load-shedding.  This is huge and cannot be overstated.  As a result, if you decide to sell your property, having solar power will really make the property stand out to potential buyers.

5. BUSINESSES WITH SOLAR POWER CAN GET TAX DEDUCTIONS

SARS provide tax incentives for businesses with solar power.  By means of this incentive, business owners are allowed to deduct the cost of their solar power system from their profits.  This is a tremendous incentive and one many people may not be aware of.   As a result, whether you have business premises or work from home this is a great benefit.

6. IT REQUIRES LITTLE MAINTENANCE

Installing solar panels is fairly simple.  Additionally, once they are up there is very little maintenance required.  This is because the batteries will usually last for a long time.  As a result, once you have paid for the initial set-up for solar power, there are no recurring costs thereafter.  Consequently, this makes solar power an excellent investment.

7. SOLAR POWER IS SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Sustainable energy means that the energy source can not run out. It can never be depleted and is renewable.  Consequently, because solar power relies on energy from the sun it is sustainable. This is important because the best way to protect the earth is to choose sustainable options wherever possible.  

As you can see there are many benefits to installing solar power.  Right now in South Africa as we struggle with constant load-shedding the one ray of hope we have is going solar instead of relying on Eskom.

Contact us today for solar energy and water filtration quotes!

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WHAT IS A WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM?

An image of water running from a tap. (What is a water filtration system?)
What is a water filtration system?

You may have heard of the term “water filtration system”.  But what exactly is a water filtration system? A water filtration system refers to a system that filters out pollutants in water.  As a result, pollutants like particles, sediment, harmful chemicals, and bacteria are filtered out. Consequently, the water is usable for drinking and/or household use.

WHY IS WATER FILTRATION IMPORTANT?

In Cape Town, we often struggle with the quality of our tap water.  And from time to time we get warnings from Council to boil our tap water before use. This is due to contamination.  

As a result, it’s essential to consider water filtration for your home.  Pollutants can occur in our tap water through things like load-shedding which can affect the running of the water treatment plant.

IS WATER FILTRATION NECESSARY WITH BOREHOLE WATER?

If you are using borehole water then it’s essential to do a water analysis test on your water.  The type of water filtration you need will depend on the results of your water analysis test and what you intend to use the water for.

It’s important to note that borehole water can become contaminated.  This can happen in the following ways:

  • Unsealed borehole cover
  • Incorrectly sealed borehole casing can lead to polluted water entering the aquifer
  • A nearby source of contamination (septic tank etc)

Contamination of your borehole can occur in various ways which is why it’s important to test your borehole water from time to time to ensure the quality of your water.

The water filtration option you need will be based on what you will use the water for.  If you are wanting to use your water for drinking water then you will need to filter it for all of the options mentioned below. 

If you will only use it outdoors then you would only need to address some of the factors.

WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR WATER FILTRATION?

The following are some of the options available for water filtration:

  • Sediment filtration 
  • Iron removal 
  • Bacterial control 
  • pH control 

Let’s take a closer look now at each of the options.

1. SEDIMENT FILTRATION

A leaf beater contains a sieve and this can be positioned just beneath the downpipe of your water tank.  Consequently, leaves and other debris from your gutters are trapped before reaching the water in your tank. 

The sieve lies at a 45-degree angle. This enables the water to flow through the sieve and into the tank while the leaves wash away.  Any coarse sediment exceeding the size of the sieve is washed off along with the leaves.

Small microparticles of sediment are able to slip through the sieve and into the water. However, a Big Blue Filter is attached to deal with this.

WHAT IS A BIG BLUE FILTER?

A Big Blue filter consists of 3 filters.  It has two sediment filters and one carbon block filter.  The two sediment filters have different-sized filters. The first one has a 10-micron filter and the other has a 1-micron filter. 

Filters are measured in microns.  A micron is defined as “a unit of length equal to one-millionth of a metre”  To give you a visual of the size of microns consider that a particle of dust is roughly the size of 1 micron.

The two sediment filters remove unwanted sediments like algae, rust, sand, and mud effectively.

Between these 2 sediment filters lies a middle-sized filter. It contains an activated carbon block.  This removes odours from the water and chlorine. Additionally, it also assists with filtration. This filter will improve the odour, colour, and taste of your water.

Water flowing through these filters is treated for odours and fine sediment.

The Big Blue filter has a flow rate of around 2720 litres per hour.  The filter cartridges of the Big Blue will need to be replaced every 6 months or when the water pressure drops. 

You can also use AFM filters to deal with Sediment. These filters contain glass that is manufactured to the optimum particle size and shape. The water is pushed through this glass media and sand, sediment, dirt, and rust are trapped and removed from the water.  

The glass media filters the water down to 3 microns and does not need to be replaced continually. This is because it can be back washed and cleaned.

2. IRON REMOVAL AND BACTERIAL CONTROL

Reverse osmosis will generally remove iron, salt, minerals, and harmful bacteria from your water.  With reverse osmosis water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane under high pressure.  Consequently, only water is able to pass through. Everything else is prevented from passing through.  

There are 3 types of membranes that are used in reverse osmosis.  These are:

  1. Tap water membrane
  2. Brack water membrane
  3. Desalination water membrane

For normal household filtration, either a tap water membrane or brack water membrane should be effective.  

As an added measure the water should also be treated by chlorination or UV lights to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria.  

3. pH LEVEL CONTROL

Borehole water that has a pH level of less than 7 is acidic. Consequently, it needs to be corrected.  This is because it can cause staining and corrosion and wouldn’t be safe for consumption.  

pH levels that are too acidic can be corrected. This is done by using a corrosion-resistant chemical feed pump. Consequently, sodium hydroxide solution is released into the water. As a result, this helps to neutralize the water.

Water filtration is essential these days.  As a result, it’s important to have a water analysis done on your water. Then the correct water filtration system can be installed. As a result, you protect your health and drink clean water.  There are so many great benefits to water filtration. It’s so worth it!

Contact us today for water filtration, solar energy and insulation quotes!

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    WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF INSULATION?

    An image of a house. What are the benefits of insulation?
    What are the benefits of insulation?

    Insulation is essential in every home. Homes in warmer environments need to be kept cool and homes in cooler environments need to be warmed.  As a result, to keep your home at regulated temperatures insulation is essential.  Let’s take a closer now at some of the benefits of insulation.

    1. IT REGULATES YOUR HOME TEMPERATURE 

    As mentioned above, without insulation our homes would either be freezing cold or too hot.  Neither of these options is comfortable or ideal.  This is where insulation is essential because it regulates the temperature of your home.  

    But how does it work exactly? Insulation has two properties.  Firstly, like a blanket, it stores heat within your home so that heat cannot escape. This is critical in colder seasons when you need your home to be toasty warm. Additionally, it also acts as a buffer preventing outside heat from entering your home.  Consequently, this helps your house remain cool.  This is essential in the warmer months when temperatures are soaring.  As a result, these two-fold properties make insulation essential for both warmer and cooler environments.  

    2. IT WILL SAVE MONEY ON YOUR ENERGY BILL

    Installing insulation means that you can reduce your heating/cooling energy use.   As a result, you will save money on your energy bill.  

    3. IT’S ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

    The earth is in crisis and we need to do all we can to live in a way that is environmentally friendly. South Africa has now put laws in place to enforce that new homes being built must have adequate insulation.  This is because insulation allows you to reduce your carbon footprint.  By using a more environmentally friendly approach you are ultimately protecting the earth.

    4. IT PROTECTS OUR NATURAL RESOURCES

    When you have insulation it means natural resources don’t need to be used to supply the energy needed to heat or cool your home. As a result, it reduces the strain on our natural resources and lowers our dependency on fossil fuels.

    These are just some of the excellent benefits of insulation.  It’s well worth the investment and yields long-term effects.

    Contact us today for water filtration, solar energy and insulation quotes!

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      9 BENEFITS OF A SOLAR GEYSER

      An image of the sun. 9 benefits of a solar geyser
      9 benefits of a solar geyser

      Solar power is the best option these days. In particular, one of our most popular requests is a solar geyser. This is because it comes with so many benefits.

      But before we look at the benefits let’s explore what it is. A solar geyser is a water heating system that is fueled by energy from the sun. 

      The geyser is placed on a rooftop.  Consequently, it’s optimally placed to receive energy from the sun.  This is obtained either directly from the sun or through light-concentrating mirrors.

      Let’s take a look at its benefits now:

      THE BENEFITS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

      1. You don’t need to rely on electricity
      2. The energy used is renewable, free, and unlimited
      3. Immense savings on your electricity bill
      4. It heats the water very efficiently
      5. It’s environmentally friendly
      6. There is no use of fossil fuels
      7. It has zero-emission
      8. Provides a lower carbon footprint
      9. It is low-maintenance

      As you can see, a solar geyser provides amazing benefits.  

      But how exactly does it work? How is the water heated?

      HOW IS THE WATER HEATED?

      A solar geyser heats the water through convection. The water circulates through the system because of the warm water rising.

      To clarify, the water stored in the panels starts to heat up. As it does, it rises into the water tank on the roof or in the ceiling. Thereafter it moves into the cylinder.

      The cooler water in the tanks flows down into the absorber. Therefore, through convection, the water is heated and circulated.

      A solar geyser is an excellent investment! It brings so many benefits. Why not consider investing in your own solar geyser today?

      Contact us today for water filtration, solar energy and insulation quotes!