Apart from ensuring a stable supply of power, the system will also considerably reduce monthly operational costs. By replacing all conventional fluorescent lighting and incandescent globes with LED lights, power consumption for lighting has dropped to one seventh of previous levels.
According to Kurt Bester, who installed the system to deal with any potential load shedding issues, it is the light of the sun, rather than the heat of it, that drives this system. “Even on a cloudy day the solar panels on the roofs of the buildings at Helderberg Hospice will be able to access the power needed to keep essential equipment working,” he explains. “Going off the national electrical grid is a very expensive exercise, but with this phased system the power needs are shared by Eskom and solar power.”
This environmentally friendly and cost-cutting installation at Helderberg Hospice has been made possible by the generous donation of funds from a loyal supporter of their care, who wanted to specifically support a project that would contribute to the long term sustainability of the service.
Mr Bester says he was so inspired by the passion and commitment of the funder to supporting Hospice care that he and his assistant, Jason De Villiers, have decided to offer their own services on a voluntary basis for the monthly maintenance required to keep the system running smoothly. Kurt Bester can be contacted at 0790662678 for any queries about the system.
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