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Weathering the winter with energy efficiency

06 June 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Rian Horn

Solar Panels at UFS Qwaqwa Campus — Revolutionising electricity with sun power: Solar panels at the Qwaqwa Campus.

Over the past few years the University of the Free State (UFS) has been planting panels, now the time has come to reap. Solar farms produced a return on investment in the form of R1.4 million in savings as a result of photovoltaics (PV) between January and March 2019. Nicolaas Esterhuysen, an electrical engineer at the Department of University Estates also reported a 2.34% decline in electricity usage between 2013 and 2018.

Solar panels are the future

According to Esterhuysen, the solution to a power crisis lies in “either becoming more energy efficient or generating our own at a cheaper cost”. All campuses have managed to save a total of R5.4 million in 2018 through producing our own power (solar PV) and actively managing the instantaneous load demand with building management system (BMS) software.

Overall, ground-mounted PV installations at all campuses contribute 2609 kilowattpeak (kWp) under standard conditions. The Bloemfontein Campus accounts for 979kWp of that amount while the South Campus generates 762kWp, with the Qwaqwa Campus producing 748kWp, and the Paradys experimental farm bringing in 120kWp to the grand total (to be commissioned June 2019).

Rooftop PVs generate electricity through the 80kWp Muller Potgieter Building, the 255kWp Bloemfontein Campus computer lab, the 35kWp Qwaqwa Campus computer lab, 135kWp Qwaqwa Campus Mandela Hall, and 416kWp Thakaneng Bridge panels. This is a total of 921kWp.

Winter is coming with tariff terrors

A 15.63% electricity tariff increase is projected this year in light of the annual winter adjustments commissioned by Eskom and Centlec. To gear up for the associated spike in power use over this season, University Estates advises the Kovsie community to use energy efficiently. “Think twice before switching on the heating and make sure to switch it off when you leave the office,” advises Esterhuysen.

In addition to generating electricity, saving initiatives such as implementing light-emitting diode (LED) lighting with motion sensors and actively managing demand at peak times have been implemented.

What’s next?

The next step is to rethink dated mechanical installations that are used to heat some of our older buildings. Replacing similar installations across all of the campuses are some of the ways the university intends to escalate energy efficient in future.

News Archive

Our 2014/15 male and female Rag finalists announced

2014-11-10

More than 100 applied. Only 20 remain.

From the ranks of the semi-finalists – who managed to raise an astonishing R250 000.00 for the Kovsie Rag CS (Receive and Give Community Service) – we now have the names of our 20 finalists.

The Brutal Fruit UFS Rag CS Queen finalists are:

Ansunel Schutte
Carla de Bruyn
Chante Marais
Charissa Venter
Diederi Venter
Erne van Wyk
Karen Janse van Rensburg
Mia van Rensburg
Selebogo Lekalake
Stephanie Enslin

The Brutal Fruit UFS Mr Rag CS finalists are:

Marcques Fourie
Americo Lottering
Brandon van Wyk
Danzel Rademan
Kabelo Mashabe
Ludwig Dohne
Marius Croucamp
Thomas Kolathu
Spurgeon Pijoos
Wilmar van Niekerk

These 20 finalists had to choose a charity or organization for which they will continue to raise funds. With the support of the public and business sector, these young men and women will be able to continue to make a difference in our community.

With a current turnover of about R5.5 million, we are today reckoned as the largest Rag CS per capita in South Africa. Goods and/or money to the value of R2 million were distributed by Kovsie Rag CS during the 2013/14 book year – to the benefit of numerous charities.

The annual Brutal Fruit UFS Rag CS Coronation Ball has become a highlight on the Free State’s social calendar. The UFS RAG CS Queen and UFS Mr RAG CS 2015 will be crowned at this lustrous event on 13 February 2015.

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