Solar heating and rain harvesting proposed in SA

COMPULSORY solar heating and harvesting rain water were two options South Africa needed to seriously consider when developing low-cost housing schemes, says WWF South Africa chief executive Tony Frost.

“We should not be building houses for the poorest of the poor that are absolutely unsustainable. We are in a water-short country, we have an abundance of sunlight,” he told the Cape Town Press Club.Frost, speaking about climate change, said it should be law that every single home harvests rain water, thereby immediately giving water access to those who cannot afford to buy it.He said the country received less than 50 per cent of the world’s average rainfall, yet it did not behave that way, with even municipalities guilty of wasting water.Urging better water use and recycling, Frost said: “There are many cities around the world that when you drink a glass of water, you know that that water has been well filtered by at least seven kidneys before you.”Frost said more attention should be given to the country’s grasslands, with only two per cent left of original grassland.He said without this vegetation, which acted as sponges for water, soaking it up and storing it, South Africa’s fresh water resources would be even more parlous.Another area the country needed to give major consideration to was the public transport system, particularly in the light of global oil and petrol increases.Frost said the country could have the most fancy 18-seater taxis, but if petrol increases continued, taxi owners would struggle to keep them on the road and workers would be hard-pressed to pay hiked fees.”It’s a huge issue and, I think, public transport should be right up at the top of priorities if we want to ameliorate the effects of climate change.”Frost said research showed climate change was having a serious bleaching effect on the oceans’ corals, threatening sea life and marine ecosystems.He said since 1972 the world started emitting more carbon dioxide the planet was capable of absorbing, and, using a financial metaphor, Frost said the world was now running at a 20 per cent to 30 per cent overdraft every year.He said the planet, as a result of all the carbon emissions, would in the next 30 years become unpleasantly hot, with severe droughts predicted as fresh water became scarcer.”Projections are …the two most fresh water challenged places on earth are going to be the Yangtze river valley and South Africa.”Frost said evidence showed that in 2015 South Africa would start physically running out of water.He said addressing the consumerist attitudes of society was central to the climate change debate.”Human consumption, human behaviour is at the heart and soul of climate change.”Frost said while hurricanes, such as the devastating Katrina which hit the United States, could not be attributed to climate change, the force and ferocity of the storm had been greatly enhanced because of global warming.”After Katrina I suspect (US President) George Bush would be thinking a little bit deeper when he goes to his gym,” said Frost when asked about the US’s reluctance to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which sought to limit harmful emissions and reduce Greenhouse effects.- Nampa-SapaWe are in a water-short country, we have an abundance of sunlight,” he told the Cape Town Press Club.Frost, speaking about climate change, said it should be law that every single home harvests rain water, thereby immediately giving water access to those who cannot afford to buy it.He said the country received less than 50 per cent of the world’s average rainfall, yet it did not behave that way, with even municipalities guilty of wasting water.Urging better water use and recycling, Frost said: “There are many cities around the world that when you drink a glass of water, you know that that water has been well filtered by at least seven kidneys before you.”Frost said more attention should be given to the country’s grasslands, with only two per cent left of original grassland.He said without this vegetation, which acted as sponges for water, soaking it up and storing it, South Africa’s fresh water resources would be even more parlous.Another area the country needed to give major consideration to was the public transport system, particularly in the light of global oil and petrol increases.Frost said the country could have the most fancy 18-seater taxis, but if petrol increases continued, taxi owners would struggle to keep them on the road and workers would be hard-pressed to pay hiked fees.”It’s a huge issue and, I think, public transport should be right up at the top of priorities if we want to ameliorate the effects of climate change.”Frost said research showed climate change was having a serious bleaching effect on the oceans’ corals, threatening sea life and marine ecosystems.He said since 1972 the world started emitting more carbon dioxide the planet was capable of absorbing, and, using a financial metaphor, Frost said the world was now running at a 20 per cent to 30 per cent overdraft every year.He said the planet, as a result of all the carbon emissions, would in the next 30 years become unpleasantly hot, with severe droughts predicted as fresh water became scarcer.”Projections are …the two most fresh water challenged places on earth are going to be the Yangtze river valley and South Africa.”Frost said evidence showed that in 2015 South Africa would start physically running out of water.He said addressing the consumerist attitudes of society was central to the climate change debate.”Human consumption, human behaviour is at the heart and soul of climate change.”Frost said while hurricanes, such as the devastating Katrina which hit the United States, could not be attributed to climate change, the force and ferocity of the storm had been greatly enhanced because of global warming.”After Katrina I suspect (US President) George Bush would be thinking a little bit deeper when he goes to his gym,” said Frost when asked about the US’s reluctance to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which sought to limit harmful emissions and reduce Greenhouse effects.- Nampa-Sapa