Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 11-06-2018

The Department of Energy has launched a new Appliance Energy Calculator mobile application that will assist consumers to make in-store comparisons of different appliance models.

Energy Minister Jeff Radebe conducted a Walkabout at the Hirsch’s Homestore in Fourways where he officially launched the Appliance Energy Calculator mobile application.

The app has been designed to assist consumers to estimate the running costs of various appliances before making a purchase.

It allows for consumers to enter the relevant information, easily sourced from the mandatory energy label on the appliance, into the app, which calculates the estimated running cost of the appliances of their choice. Over a 1 and 10 year period – showing which appliance uses the least electricity.

Using Eskom’s published grid emission factor of 0.9958 tCO2/MWh, the app also estimates CO2 emissions of the appliance.

Radebe also launched a programme to remove the highest energy-consuming appliances from the South African market.

The programme is aimed at introducing appliances that are less energy consuming and compliant with the new Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)

The project forms part of an integral part of the measures geared towards reducing electricity consumption and the carbon footprint of the residential sector in South Africa.

Radebe says access to electricity for all South Africans remains a core objective of government and so is the efficient and effective use of this resource.

“Because we cannot always control how citizens choose to use their electricity, it was imperative for us to implement measures that ensure that appliances sold in South Africa are regulated and energy efficient. We equally introduced instruments that assist consumers to make the right choices when purchasing appliances.”

The Appliance Energy Calculator app is currently available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store.

Twitter: @FaizelPatel143