Shamwari-uYilo Launch
20 March 2015 – Shamwari Game Reserve, part of Shamwari Group, in conjunction with key partners - South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI-Electric Nissan Truck supplier), Powertech (ATV battery supplier), Tracker (Vehicle telematic equipment supplier) and Imperial Green Mobility (ATV fleet supplier) have unveiled their first electric safari vehicle, which is hoped to help make the safari experience greener and more sustainable and also support Shamwari Game Reserve’s anti-poaching initiatives.
An electric Nissan truck and an electric vehicle platform provided by SANEDI, will be placed at Shamwari Game Reserve for use by the Conservation Experience Programme. This 20 seater truck will be used to host and transport students as part of Shamwari’s behind the scenes experiences, which expose guests to several management tasks and projects in conservation, wildlife, ecology and community incumbencies. The ‘quads’, electric all-terrain vehicle platform provided by Imperial Green Mobility, will be used by the rhino anti-poaching programme and possibly a mobile film unit.
The deployment of a dedicated car port housing a solar array at Shamwari will provide the ideal renewable source of energy for charging the vehicles and will provide a completely off-grid solution for a ‘green’ game reserve experience. The multi industry partnership forms part of uYilo’s activities to pool together various companies and organisations towards introducing e-mobility and its technologies in to South Africa. The intent is to create awareness, test performance of EVs in different roles and determine the feasibly of e-Mobility for the safari industry.
The research and development focus will be on the feasibility of developing a fully South African designed and engineered EV for the safari industry and its potential to champion several other rural industries. Comments Joe Cloete, Group General Manager for Shamwari Group, “This is yet another remarkable initiative that helps us in our pursuit to conserve a vanishing way of life and be more self-sufficient whilst offering guests something truly unique. This type of support will be groundbreaking in the fight against poachers. The research and development will help in developing and testing the technology at Shamwari Game Reserve for the safari industry of the future. ”
Load shedding does not have to spoil your holiday
Top tips for saving and celebrating a greener Christmas
Load shedding is a fact of life for the foreseeable future in South Africa and a little planning and creativity can alleviate a lot of the unpleasantness during the holidays. This is according to Evan Schiff, event director of the annual African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference and expo in Cape Town.
He says furthermore that higher electricity prices in South Africa have become an increasing strain on consumers’ monthly expenses and that “Christmas is a great time to introduce energy saving habits into a household as many easy and simple changes in the way we live can end up putting extra money into your pocket.”
Practical tips to plan for and cope with load shedding this holiday:
• Be prepared, keep a regular eye on websites with information on load shedding schedules and print these out. http://www.loadshedding.eskom.co.za/
• Create a Whatsapp group for your neighbourhood and keep each other informed.
• Make sure that there are enough candles, matches, torches, batteries and so forth for load shedding periods after dark.
• Be ready for it! Make sure all cellphones, tablets, laptops and toys are fully charged before the lights go out. This way you can keep the kids entertained with a movie, or at least be able to use the phone.
• Have fun activities ready for when the lights are off such as board games and family time around the barbeque.
• Keep a gas burner as a back-up in the kitchen to be able to heat water and do essential cooking.
An energy efficient holiday season
“There are a variety of ways we can use a lot less electricity this holiday season”, says Schiff, “such as using LED* Christmas lights which use 90% less electricity than regular Christmas lights. Consider investing in solar powered outdoor lights which can also be used on the Christmas tree and only come on at night.”
He continues: “up to 40% of all batteries are purchased during the holiday season so try to buy toys and gifts that don't use electricity or batteries. Gifts made of recycled material are also a great environmentally friendly gesture.”
More handy energy saving tips for the holiday season:
• Don’t use the tumble dryer unnecessarily – it is summer, so take advantage of solar powered drying.
• Turn off the room lights when the Christmas tree lights are on.
• Set a timer to Christmas and outdoor lights to limit the time they are on.
• Create a romantic and intimate atmosphere by using candles instead of lights.
• Enjoy the weather and celebrate the holidays outside with a braai instead of cooking on a stove! Or enjoy cold meats and salads during this summer season – it’s healthier and saves on power.
• If you’re going away, turn off/ the geyser, empty and unplug the refrigerator.Advice for improving energy efficiency in your home during the year:
• Invest in a geyser blanket. Unless the geyser is properly insulated, switching it off does not save electricity.
• Insulate the roof to make the house cooler in summer and warmer in winter and thereby saving on seasonal heating and cooling.• Switch off appliances at the wall plug when not in use.
• Replace CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) bulbs with LED.
• Use cold water to do laundry, it saves electricity and is better for the clothes.
Gathering thousands of energy professionals
For the past 14 years, the African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference and exhibition has helped to reduce the energy consumption of commercial and industrial large power users and has assisted in African utilities providing electricity and water to all of Africa. The event brings together thousands of utility professionals from across the globe to learn, share knowledge and debate the key topics that will secure the future development of Africa’s power industry. These include energy efficiency, improved service delivery, renewable energy, collaboration across the continent and investment in new power projects. South Africa’s state utility Eskom has been a key partner for many years.
The 15th edition of African Utility Week is expected to again attract more than 5000 attendees and feature 250 exhibitors, 190 speakers, eight conferences, free technical workshops on the expo floor, three high-profile plenary sessions and the coveted industry awards gala dinner. Stakeholders from across the industry and continent are represented, from Ministers of Energy through to power and water utilities, municipalities and regulators to investors and technology and service providers.
Attending the African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa exhibition is free when registering in advance and it showcases energy saving technologies and services for the industry and features hands-on demonstrations and workshops on the exhibition floor.
*LED=light-emitting diodes
Eskom’s 49M campaign encourages all South Africans to take the 49M pledge to save at least 10% electricity. http://www.49m.co.za
African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa are organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.
The dates for next year’s African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa are:
Exhibition & Conference: 12-14 May 2015
Industry awards: 13 May 2015
Site Visits: 15 May 2015
Location: CTICC, Cape Town
Website: www.african-utility-week.com, www.clean-power-africa.com
Contact for interviews:
Event director: Evan Schiff
Mobile: +27 83 415 3534
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Communications manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Telephone: +27 21 700 3558
Mobile: +27 82 562 7844
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kansai Plascon reaches Level 3 BBB-EE Status
We, Kansai Plascon, have achieved one of our best B-BEE ratings to date and are recognised as a Value Adding Supplier. Our B-BBEE procurement recognition level has increased from 110% to 137.5%, which is higher than that of a non-value adding level 1 status supplier. So, when tendering for projects, our combined B-BBEE status and Value Adding Supplier position effectively make Kansai Plascon the preferred procurement choice.
Our B-BBEE status now stands at level 3, as of September 2014, having increased from level 4 in 2013. With a score of 80.27 points, this rating cements our position as the coatings industry market leader.
There's great news for our customers too. Companies that purchase from Plascon will improve their own procurement scores thereby improving their B-BBEE ratings. By partnering with us, customers benefit through improved B-BBEE procurement scores.
In contrast, if a customer purchases products from a non-value adding level 5 supplier and not Plascon, then their procurement recognition will amount to a far lesser 80% only. All this renders Kansai Plascon the obvious choice.
Kansai Plascon has 125-year long history of leading quality assurance, superb formulation and trusted performance – and now, we have also secured our position as the market leader in benefitting our customers.
- ENDS
About Kansai Plascon Kansai Plascon is a company within the global Kansai Paint group. Kansai Paint is the world’s sixth largest paint company and Japan’s foremost coatings manufacturer. With the backing of Kansai Paint, Kansai Plascon will continue to drive innovation and excellence in the retail, trade and industrial coatings market in South Africa and will further the company’s interests in Africa.
For further information, please contact: Alex Coggins Marketing Executive, Kansai Plascon + 27 11 951 4500
SECOND PHASE OF 42 HECTARE RESIDENTIAL ESTATE IN SOMERSET WEST TO LAUNCH IN SEPTEMBER
The second development phase at Somerset Lakes, a 42-hectare residential estate in Somerset West, will be released to the market in mid September. The first phase sold out rapidly, with 114 sales being recorded within just six weeks of the launch. Construction of the first phase is well under way and occupation is expected to take place in mid 2015.
The new phase, Waterford Green, comprises 48 freestanding double-storey houses, selling from R1,3 million including VAT, no transfer duty. These two and three bedroom homes offer spacious, contemporary, open-plan living areas and private gardens. All homes include at least two bathrooms, one being en suite, and the three-bedroom design offers a garage and an optional guest toilet.
According to Dave Harris, Sales and Marketing Manager of Somerset Lakes, the new product has been specifically designed to help meet the growing demand for affordable, quality housing in the popular Somerset West area.
“We’ve been inundated with requests from buyers looking for houses,” Harris said. “People want freestanding homes with gardens, views and security, in close proximity to the centre of Somerset West, and that’s exactly what our latest product at Somerset Lakes has to offer.”
Designed by Schabort Associates Architects, the new development phase is located alongside the six-hectare lake that gives the estate its name.
“This unique feature is a huge attraction,” Harris commented. “It’s ideal for swimming, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing and fishing, and home to a rich variety of water birds. A magnificent community clubhouse on the shores of the lake, The Summer Club, will enhance the appeal of this fantastic recreational asset, providing residents with play areas, boat sheds, a sandy white beach, and a swimming pool and deck area with stunning views of False Bay and the Hottentots Holland mountains.”
The developers, Omwieco (Pty) Ltd, a consortium of highly experienced development professionals backed by financial giant Investec, have devoted no less than 40% of the estate’s total area to green, open space for the recreation of residents. This includes the lakes and other water features, a mature forest of stone pine trees, landscaped parks and gardens, and kilometres of walking trails and mountain biking tracks.
An indigenous fynbos nursery has been established on the estate, which was recently awarded the prized 2014 SALI Gold Award for landscape design by the South African Landscapers Institute.“No expense has been spared to implement the most technically advanced security system at Somerset Lakes,” said Harris. "These measures include electrified perimeter fencing with 70 high-definition surveillance cameras, which are monitored around the clock from the hi-tech guardhouse, 24-hour guarding and patrols, and an on-site rapid response team. Other advanced features include biometric fingerprint access control."
All homes in the estate will be hardwired with fibre-optic cabling for superfast internet access, DStv and VOIP telephone connectivity, which will allow free telephone calls within the estate.
A Curro Castle School is being constructed on the estate and is due to open its doors in 2015.
Convenient access to the Somerset West village has been provided by the developers through the R16 million construction of Reunion Drive, which links the main entrance of Somerset Lakes to Sir Lowry’s Pass Village Road under a specially constructed railway bridge. Just a few hundred metres from this entrance, an upmarket new shopping centre is now under construction, where Checkers, Woolworths Foods and Clicks will be the anchor tenants.The Vergelegen Mediclinic and the Somerset West CBD are less than two kilometres away, while popular Somerset Mall shopping centre is just 3,5 kilometres from the estate.
“When you consider the amazing lifestyle advantages Somerset Lakes offers, the security, the convenience of the surrounding amenities, and the incredible natural beauty of the estate, I have no doubt our second phase will sell as fast as the first one,” said Harris.“I strongly advise anyone interested to register online for an invitation to a pre-launch sales opportunity, ahead of our public launch in mid September, to avoid disappointment.”
For further information visit www.somersetlakes.co.za or phone 021 202 2200.
Natural and Organic Exhibition
Green Building Media Launches Video Format
Currently they are streaming in podcasts globally and are hoping to expand their selection to cover conferences and events, with speakers and experts presenting useful information on green techniques, designs, construction, and materials and products that are environmentally friendly.
