Over a matter of days, South Africa’s winter chill has burned off with a very warm summer ahead. This will see a change in household requirements, from heating to cooling. “This should also bring about a change in energy usage,” comments Denise Lundall, Project Officer Energy Efficiency Cool Surface at the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI). “If people embrace low-tech cooling initiatives such as cool coatings, there is no need to battle high electricity bills from using air conditioners and fans this summer,” she says.
Cool coatings involve the painting of a heat-reflective membrane onto one’s roof, passively cooling the building with the absence of electrical technology, thus saving electricity. “The coating reflects heat and mitigates the need for fans or air-conditioners, making living conditions more comfortable. We have started applying this coating to roads and paving too, and have seen the incredible impact this can make in cooling down an urban area,” says Lundall.
