Investing in Energy Efficiency Technology: The benefits of solar water heaters for low-income households. Popular

In collaboration with the Department of Minerals and Energy (DMRE), we  supported a pilot project which installed 200 solar water heaters in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipality. To review the pilot project, SAGEN commissioned a study that investigated the impact of solar water heater use by low-income households over a period of one and a half years.  The results presented by the study emphasised the importance of hot water for households and the impact of energy consumption on household budgets.  The impact assessment concluded that the use of solar water heaters positively impacted on recipient households through the reduction in energy consumption and resulting monetary savings of R103 per month on average were recorded. Solar water heaters also saved time and improved the feeling of well-being through having hot water readily available.

Author/s: GIZ