Picture: THINKSTOCK
Picture: THINKSTOCK

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  • Companies and organisations: Eskom

ESKOM will be distributing a further 10-million energy-saving lamps in all nine provinces up to end of March 2017.

This follows a successful campaign in which 64-million energy-saving lamps were distributed around the country since 2006‚ the electricity parastatal said on Saturday.

"The current roll-out of the energy efficient lighting exchange commenced in November 2015 and continues in the Free State this month. The initial areas to be targeted in the Free State province during the energy efficient lighting exchange include Qwaqwa in the Maluti a Phofung Local Municipality. More areas will be added to cover the 500,000 energy-saving lamp allocation for the province‚" Eskom stated.

Through its energy efficient lighting exchange programme‚ Eskom will conduct door-to-door campaigns to swap old-style light bulbs and spent compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) with new energy-efficient ones. An estimated 155MW — enough to power two towns the size of Thaba Nchu — was saved during the first phase of the roll-out of the programme.

CFLs can last up to eight times longer than incandescent lamps and save up to 80% on energy use. Millions of people around the world are making the switch to energy efficient lamps.

"With energy efficiency and climate change recognised as a priority globally‚ Eskom’s current energy efficient lighting exchange programme is expected to play a key role in reducing pressure on the national power grid and alleviating the need for load shedding‚" Eskom said.

The power utility said Eskom-accredited installers — wearing bibs inscribed with the words "Energy Efficient Lighting Exchange Programme" and carrying Eskom ID cards — would be going door-to-door to swap old style light bulbs and spent CFLs free of charge. Households would receive leaflets informing them of when installers would be in their area while additional information on the programme would be broadcast on community radio stations in the areas where the roll-outs were taking place.

"Households should take every precaution to ensure their personal safety. Only representatives dressed in clearly marked bibs and carrying Eskom ID cards should be allowed in. Additional safety measures built into the programme are briefing sessions with neighbourhood watch organisations as well as the police stations in the identified areas," Eskom said.

TMG Digital