Homeowners are being offered the opportunity to reduce their energy consumption through the free installation of energy efficient technologies as part of State-owned power utility Eskom’s Residential Mass Roll-out programme.

Over 71 MW of electricity has been saved through electronic products manufacturer and distributor Ellies’ Project Power Save campaign, which was launched by the company’s renewable-energy division early this year and is supported by State-owned power utility Eskom.

South African businesses that participate in the continent’s largest energy saving lighting deal can save the country a collective R41-million a year if they use the energy saving light-emitting diode (LED) lightbulbs in their businesses and operations, says lighting manufacturer Philips regional marketing manager John Westermeyer.

Not enough money is being spent on maintaining and rejuvenating equipment at South African power stations and large process plants, which often feature old technology, which, in turn, results in high maintenance and breakdown costs, says targeted consulting and implementation skills provider Rifle-Shot Performance Holdings CEO Ian Huntly.

Construction materials group AfriSam, in January, placed an order with Austrian company Scheuch for its patented energy minimising concept bag filter technology, which will be used in a new dust collection baghouse that is being built as part of AfriSam’s R105-million upgrade at its Ulco plant, north-west of Kimberley, in the Northern Cape.

Integrated building technology solutions and services provider Honeywell Building Solutions has secured a R300 000 rebate from State-owned power utility Eskom through the implementation of an energy retrofit project at the Passenger Rail Association of South Africa’s (Prasa’s) Durban station, in KwaZulu-Natal.

The R7.7-billion budgeted for environmental programmes between 2012/13 and 2014/15 will provide 205 877 work opportunities and 102 603 full-time equivalent jobs, Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa told lawmakers on Wednesday.

International consulting company 3E has officially launched an office in South Africa, aiming to be an independent, renewable-energy consulting partner for project developers, investors, asset managers and system operators.