Philips and Eskom DSM turn the tide on energy usage

"We are thrilled with the sales figures and want to thank the retailers who supported this tremendous venture," says Mario Biagi, Business Manager: Philips Retail Lighting. The following retailers participated in the Mega-Watt Savings Project: Agrinet, Dion, Game, Makro, the Pick 'n Pay group, Shoprite Checkers, Trade Centre, and Voltex.
 
Eskom's project manager for the Mega-Watt Savings campaign, Barry Bredenkamp, explained that the promotion has been about more than selling energy efficient lighting products. "From the outset we have committed ourselves to educating consumers about the most efficient use of lighting, because energy usage is a key area for ensuring the survival of our planet."
 
The Mega-Watt Savings Project included an aggressive drive to educate and convert consumers to energy efficient lighting via a print and electronic media campaign. Adverts, advertorials and lamp giveaways were featured in both consumer and trade publications to ensure a push-pull effect. A national television campaign across DSTV, etv, and SABC sought to reach a broad spectrum of consumers. Radio ads were flighted on regional and ALS stations, and educational interviews were conducted on several of the vernacular stations. The campaign also included an in-store consumer competition offering a Philips TV, Home Entertainment System and Philishave Sensotec Shaver as prizes.

The Project promoted the use of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs), the eco-friendly alternative to the incandescent globe. These lamps burn for an average of 6000 hours, which is six to eight times longer than normal incandescent globes. Consumers can reduce their lighting bill by as much as 80% when they convert to energy efficient lighting.
 
Until recently, most South African households have relied on incandescent bulbs, which are inefficient light sources, because they convert 80% of electricity directly to heat and only about 20% to visible light. CFLs work the other way around, converting 80% into light, thus reducing energy usage, while providing the same or more light.
 
Energy consumption has been identified as one of the main contributors to the rise in global greenhouse gas emissions. Once Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and other gasses become thick enough, they envelop the earth - the so-called Greenhouse effect - causing temperatures to rise.
 
Most power stations in South Africa are coal-fired, which means that each station emits certain levels of carbon dioxide. "For a developing nation, there are certain levels of CO2 emissions that are acceptable, however building additional power stations will obviously increase the pollutant factor," explains Bredenkamp. "Eskom has introduced energy saving measures to combat this and to help consumers to save money while protecting the environment at the same time!"
 
Energy efficiency improvements in residential appliances and lighting can reduce CO2 emissions, thereby ensuring a sustainable energy future and mitigating climactic changes. "In developing countries, efficient residential appliances and lighting are vital to improve living conditions and reduce local pollution," says Bredenkamp. "Therefore the use of efficient residential appliances and lighting products are key to sustaining our existing resources."
 
While Eskom has been preparing for this eventuality for quite some time now, the public needs to support energy efficient efforts by opting to use products such as CFLs to ensure that electricity remains a sustainable resource.