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oneSolar has just completed the installation of a Solar Water System at Kolping Training Centre in Kalksteenfontein.
This well known non-profit organization caters to youth and unemployed people in the Community and its surrounding areas, those including Valhalla Park, Bishop Lavis, Bonteheuwel and Guguletu. For projects such as these, Kolping makes use of existing buildings – the building of choice in this instance was Montana Primary School.
When asked his reasons for going solar, Father Roland Pasensie expressed his desire to help people treat the environment in a friendly and sustainable manner. Solar, he reckons, is the way of the future and something that needs to happen in all of South Africa. On a visit to Israel, Father Roland noticed that every household had hot water run by solar energy. He feels this can be done everywhere – townships and poor areas included, and this form of renewable energy needs to be placed in these areas where people can see what can be done with it.
The installation was certainly one with a difference. Due to the high risk of theft, extra measures including a German imported fitting system were taken to prevent the panels from being stolen. oneSolar expressed high hopes that the security would enable the facility to actually make use of the great savings these panels offer.
As water from a solar panel can reach temperatures of up to 90 degrees, a Hot-Water-Mixing Valve was also included in the installation to prevent the children from burning themselves.
The installation was made possible by a partnership agreement between the Bavarian and Western Cape Governments to promote energy sustainability. A project like this solar installation is aimed at the poorest of the poor as an awareness raising profile of what can happen in the future. |
