SA Affordable Housing September - October 2019 // ISSUE: 78 | Page 26

FEATURE
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
boards, there is a cold void created at night in the roof space.
In inland areas where thin copper pipe has been installed,
you have significant heat dissipation so it takes some time
to get hot water in the morning – if you have the insulation
there is a noticeable difference, thereby saving electricity.”
He says this can be done not only in new developments, but
can be retrofitted to existing homes.
HEATING WATER
Sascha Altmann, managing director: Stiebel Eltron Southern Africa.
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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2019
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Innovative water heaters are negating the need for
traditional energy-guzzling geysers, which account for 60%
of a home’s electricity bill, according to Eskom’s website.
There are a number of alternative options: solar power, heat
pumps and instantaneous water heaters.
Each option uses substantially less electricity to heat
water than do resistance heaters such as geysers – by how
much, depends on their particular technology. All heat pumps
have to declare their coefficient of performance (COP). In
South Africa, because of high ambient temperatures of the
surrounding air, an air source is used to heat water.
Sascha Altmann, managing director of Stiebel Eltron
Southern Africa, says, “The most energy is spent for the
domestic hot water heating. This is the biggest factor where
you can save on energy. The biggest energy saver will be
a heat pump. It uses the energy of the environment and
transfers this to domestic hot water. As an alternative to a
central heat pump solution, decentralised instantaneous
water heaters are a great alternative. It will be a lower
investment compared to a heat pump system, and the client
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