A special tax incentive to save energy was promulgated on 1 November, but how does that work? We are talking about the “Regulations in terms of Section 12L of the Income Tax Act, 1962, on the allowance for energy efficiency savings.” The allowance is for the purpose of determining the taxable income derived by any person from carrying on any trade in respect of any year of … [Read more...]
Green living with style
Environment Response Architecture (ERA Architects) were approached by a client with a very exciting and challenging request. The client wanted a Johannesburg home that has a unique and intriguing look, but most importantly could also function if the Johannesburg municipality should fail completely; a luxury home that offered comfortable living no matter what the … [Read more...]
Energy experts and corporates discuss opportunities
Business think tank Accelerate Cape Town and KPMG brought several large companies together earlier this month to discuss emerging renewable energy opportunities in South Africa, with input from experts in business, academia and government. Accelerate Cape Town’s 48 member companies include some of the largest corporates in the country and a number of multinationals who have … [Read more...]
Pretoria Uni opts for record breaking solar system
Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa (SESSA) member Holms and Friends has installed a solar water heating system at the University of Pretoria (UP) which – with a total 672m2 collector surface – is the biggest glazed installation in Southern Africa. The installation at the university’s veterinary campus, Onderstepoort, meets the warm water demands of its new energy … [Read more...]
The sun’s impending temper tantrum
In late January and again in the second week of March, the sun lashed out in a bit of a temper tantrum, on both occasions sending out a powerful interplanetary coronal mass ejection whose full effects reached Earth in a few days. We got lucky: Nothing much happened, and the resulting space weather storm didn’t pack as big a punch as expected. This won’t always be the … [Read more...]
Hands-on greening becomes a passion
If you’re not passionate about the earth, don’t bother to do the 5 hour trip from Cape Town to Forest Edge along the Knysna forest. Although it is a multi-award-winning resort with very well equipped and serviced cottages, this is ultimately a Nature Lovers’ Retreat. I had been there before and of course loved the chilled vibe as I wrote poetry in the hammock on the cottage … [Read more...]
Impact of solar flares on humans?
John from 'Wisdom to Nourish' writes that many people are experiencing broken sleep, strange or vivid dreams and possibly also feelings of anxiety or fear at this time. The brain is an electromagnetic/chemical receiver and transmitter of information. It is influenced by magnetic grids both terrestrial as well as of solar origin. He share an article on the effect of solar … [Read more...]
Burning wetland stops us in our tracks
On Friday afternoon we were about to hit ‘send’ to release this issue, when a thick smoke invaded our office like a ghost. We ran outside to see the wetland beyond our wall go up in flames – fanned by a strong wind blowing in our direction. Ironically we were just focusing on the importance of wetlands as central to healthy ecosystems and here they are destroyed again. This … [Read more...]
Understanding solar geysers: Tasol Solar
Understanding solar geysers is one of the new life skills we all need to acquire in our society's leap from fossil to solar energy. As a next installment in our series on solar geyser systems, here is what Tasol Solar has on offer. Tasol specialises in Solar water heating systems such as solar geysers, retrofit geysers, heat pumps and hybrid systems. They strive to encourage … [Read more...]
