Ceramic spheres (made from borro-silicates/glass) were developed by NASA to radiate the heat of the sun away from the surface of their spacecrafts to prevent them burning up in space. This technology has been incorporated into normal acrylic coating systems and the manufacturers claim that coating (painting) your roof with Createch will reduce the temperature inside the building by up to 44%, reducing the need for airconditioning. The product is non-organic and non-degrading and has a lifespan of 10-15 years. The picture shows a classic SA Home in the Karoo, roof painted with Createc and now, according to the manufacturer, kept cool through the long hot summer without aircon.
ECO-INSULATION Eco-Insultation is a cellulose fibre ceiling insulation product made in South Africa from recycled paper. Eco-Insulation can provide significant electricity savings and carries a lifetime guarantee. The product is fire resistant; unattractive to rodents and insects; has proved its long-term resistance to both wet and dry rot; is non-toxic, non-irritant & non-allergenic; uses no asbestos or glass fibre. The only drawback is that if you have a serious roof leak, the 'paper' can get too heavy and it can damage to your ceiling - so you need to make sure your roof is leak-proof.
According to the manufacturers, the recovery period from the cost of Eco-Insulation is plus minus 3 years in energy consumption.
THERMGUARD
Thermguard is manufactured from 70% recycled newsprint with 30% harmless (according to the manufacturer) household chemicals added to make the product fire-retardent, as well as insect and rodent resistant. Thermguard is used extensively in the USA and Europe as it consists of recycled material used to conserve energy. Certain municipalities in the UK will subsidise Cellulose Fibre Insulation for use in their areas because of the "green effect". hermguard is fire retardant and rodent resistant and and has been awarded the SABS Mark. Made from the similar materials to Eco-Insultation, the same consideration needs to be given to ensuring your roof is water-proof.
STOVETEC STOVES StoveTec wood and charcoal stoves are a cross between a braai and an oven, and are very well suited for camping and the outdoors due to their efficiency. Developed by the Aprovecho research centre in America, the StoveTec oven won the 2009 Ashden award for green innovation; was featured in GO/Weg magazine, Die Burger and Engineering News; and was spoken about on RSG and Cape Talk/702. The stove is double as efficient as most other braais, using half the wood/charcoal (only 3 pieces of wood needed to cook 1.5kg of pap). According to the website www.stovetec.net and www.restio.co.za, the stove cooks 2-4 times faster than other wood/charcoal stoves, and produces 60% less carbon emmisions. It was featured in CNN's "20 ideas that could change the world".
There are two types of stoves, one better suited for wood and the other for charcoal, and both are designed to cook 3 meals a day and are thus very durable.
The Restio Energy organisation, which sells the ovens, is located in Somerset West- but country-wide posting is available at an extra charge of R70.
For more information and prices, visit www.restio.co.za or:
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Energy Saving