Nuus/News
TygerBurger Kuilsrivier Bladsy 4
Woensdag 15 Augustus 2012
Let kettle whistle while you save electricity If ever proof were needed that Eskom has lost the plot, it came when their CEO Brian Dames recently called on business for a radical reorganisation of working hours to deal with the problem of the evening peak hour. This is the time when the orange or red appeals appear on TV screens asking people to switch off geysers, pool pumps and lights because the Eskom grid is in trouble. The surge in demand for electricity is caused by people coming home from work and switching on electric stoves, kettles and heaters. In a nutshell, domestic consumers are using too much electricity
so Eskom wants to clobber business. How’s that for logic? A drastic reorganisation of working hours would hurt business and have far-reaching effects on public transport and family life and it wouldn’t solve the problem either. Does Eskom really think families will delay their evening meal to 21:00 when Daddy comes home from his flexi-time job? What will happen is that the stove will have to go on again and there will be two meal times – one for the kids and one for the parents. The peak demand period from 17:00 to 21:00 is the big problem area. That’s when the big power sta-
tions can’t produce enough electricity to meet the demand so they use gas turbines, which use vast amounts of imported diesel. The electricity they produce is at least seven times as expensive as that produced by the big power stations. The second problem is that most of the free electricity for consumers is used for cooking and lighting during the evening peak. And then there is stolen electricity which is also used mainly at this time. So it is pretty obvious that the best way to tackle the evening peak is to persuade people to use gas for cooking and heating. Free energy for the poor should be provided in
the form of gas which is also cleaner and a darn side safer than the exploding paraffin stoves that cause the shack fires. Transporting and selling gas will also create jobs. There may be questions about the supply of LPG but it is a lot easier and quicker to import LPG than to build power stations. So it’s a “no brainer” except to the confused people of Eskom. They want to solve what is essentially a domestic crisis by clobbering business and disorganising our lives! As
the Chamber of Commerce said recently, Eskom seems intent on solving the wrong problem. What we need is a campaign to promote gas for cooking and heating. We need whistling kettles for our gas stoves. Instead of wasting money on silly advertisements about not filling the kettle, Eskom should promote whistling kettles for use on gas rings. Gas is a permanent solution to the problem of the evening peak hour. Why can’t Eskom see it?
Warm kennels for cold dogs DESIREÉ RORKE
Man’s best friend is sleeping snugly this winter thanks to the efforts of Adele Lombaard of the Dogbox Project and CapeGate shopping centre. What started as a Mandela Day initiative to build dog kennels for dogs in underprivileged areas, has now gained such momentum that another two events will be held before the end of the year. At the first project day a few weeks ago, 150 enthusiastic volunteers divided in teams of two, met at CapeGate LifeStyle centre to try their hand at kennel building. Although they aimed for 67, it was two ticks and a dog’s tail and 70 kennels were completed. With the help of local animal shelters these were distributed into less fortunate communities. The ready-made kennels
were supplied 95 % assembled and each team was responsible to finish one kennel, adding finishing touches and varnishing. Every kennel received a blanket donated by Daro Pet Products and bag of dog food donated by Pet Food City. “The need in animal shelters is growing by the day. Blankets, food and kennels are always on the list. Of these three items, kennels are unfortunately the most expensive and as funds are limited, the shelters are not always able to purchase them,” says Adele Lombaard who co-ordinated the project. Donations are always welcome and for every R400 donated, a new kennel will be purchased and another dog will be able to sleep warmer. For more information, please contact Adele Lombaard on 082 925 2671 or info@dogboxproject.co.za. Join us on Facebook and visit www.dogboxproject.co.za.
Everyone hard at work building kennels.
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