What contribution does the installation of solar water heaters make towards the alleviation of energy poverty in South Africa?

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dc.contributor.authorWlokas, Holle Linnea
dc.date.accessioned2016-02-08T12:42:32Z
dc.date.available2016-02-08T12:42:32Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.date.updated2016-02-03T11:54:55Z
dc.description.abstractThe South African government has publicized plans to install one million solar water heaters in households throughout South Africa by the year 2014, with the goals of reducing strain on existing electricity resources, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, creating employment and alleviating poverty. This paper examines two existing solar water heater installation projects with the aim of investigating the social contribution of the installation of solar water heaters in low-income households in South Africa. The Sustainable Urban Livelihoods approach (SULA) was adjusted to provide an analytical framework for the development of suitable indicators of social change in the context of renewable energies and energy poverty. Increases in household capital and the reduction of household vulnerability to shocks, stressors and seasonal variability as the result of solar water heater installation were investigated in projects in low-income housing developments in the cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Data collected from paired household surveys (before and after installation) in over 600 households and qualitative information (Most Significant Change stories) show that the provision of a constant, cheap source of heated water contributed positively to the alleviation of energy poverty. Household capitals (categorised as Human, Social, Financial, Physical, Natural and Gender capital), including aspects such as health benefits and time and financial savings, were all positively effected by the installation of solar water heaters. In addition, improved energy security greatly reduced household vulnerability to shocks, stressors and seasonal variability. Comparison between the two projects revealed that the geographical setting (climatic conditions in particular), and the approach and strategies adopted by the implementers of the solar water heater installation project, greatly determine the extent to which benefits to the households are realised.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationWlokas, H. L. (2011). What contribution does the installation of solar water heaters make towards the alleviation of energy poverty in South Africa?. <i>Journal of Energy in Southern Africa</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16903en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationWlokas, Holle Linnea "What contribution does the installation of solar water heaters make towards the alleviation of energy poverty in South Africa?." <i>Journal of Energy in Southern Africa</i> (2011) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16903en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationWlokas, H. L. (2011). What contribution does the installation of solar water heaters make towards the alleviation of energy poverty in South Africa. Journal of Energy in southern africa, 22(2), 27-39.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1021-447Xen_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Wlokas, Holle Linnea AB - The South African government has publicized plans to install one million solar water heaters in households throughout South Africa by the year 2014, with the goals of reducing strain on existing electricity resources, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, creating employment and alleviating poverty. This paper examines two existing solar water heater installation projects with the aim of investigating the social contribution of the installation of solar water heaters in low-income households in South Africa. The Sustainable Urban Livelihoods approach (SULA) was adjusted to provide an analytical framework for the development of suitable indicators of social change in the context of renewable energies and energy poverty. Increases in household capital and the reduction of household vulnerability to shocks, stressors and seasonal variability as the result of solar water heater installation were investigated in projects in low-income housing developments in the cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Data collected from paired household surveys (before and after installation) in over 600 households and qualitative information (Most Significant Change stories) show that the provision of a constant, cheap source of heated water contributed positively to the alleviation of energy poverty. Household capitals (categorised as Human, Social, Financial, Physical, Natural and Gender capital), including aspects such as health benefits and time and financial savings, were all positively effected by the installation of solar water heaters. In addition, improved energy security greatly reduced household vulnerability to shocks, stressors and seasonal variability. Comparison between the two projects revealed that the geographical setting (climatic conditions in particular), and the approach and strategies adopted by the implementers of the solar water heater installation project, greatly determine the extent to which benefits to the households are realised. DA - 2011 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - Journal of Energy in Southern Africa LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2011 SM - 1021-447X T1 - What contribution does the installation of solar water heaters make towards the alleviation of energy poverty in South Africa? TI - What contribution does the installation of solar water heaters make towards the alleviation of energy poverty in South Africa? UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16903 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/16903
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationWlokas HL. What contribution does the installation of solar water heaters make towards the alleviation of energy poverty in South Africa?. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa. 2011; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16903.en_ZA
dc.languageengen_ZA
dc.publisherEnergy Research Centre, University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentEnergy Research Centreen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.sourceJournal of Energy in Southern Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.otherSolar energy
dc.subject.otherEnergy policy
dc.subject.otherEnergy development
dc.subject.otherSustainable development
dc.titleWhat contribution does the installation of solar water heaters make towards the alleviation of energy poverty in South Africa?en_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.subject.keywordssolar water heateren_ZA
uct.subject.keywordsenergy povertyen_ZA
uct.subject.keywordsrenewable energyen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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