In Gauteng, night-time temperatures can touch zero for three or more months in dry-cold conditions while the damp, winter-rainfall region of the Western Cape creates a different problem. Country-wide, temperatures rise from late August and yet some regions remain cold in early September, only warming up from mid-October.

Spring morphs – seemingly ever more rapidly – into Summer and with global temperatures rising, South Africa in turn can record 35°C - 43°C in the swelter of December, January and February. These extremes are therefore likely to become a more oppressive reality.

This annual Habitat FOCUS on how best to control the residential climate includes comment from experienced minds in the field.

Hotting Up

Older homes don’t cope well with such temperature variations, especially damp cold. During winter months, cutting-edge insulation and heating systems will help combat chilly interiors and draughts.
 
Davide Marchesini of Italcotto adds: ‘South Africa lags behind most developed countries when it comes to heating and cooling systems. We’ve been spoilt with long summers and low electricity costs. Recently however, we are witnessing unprecedented change in global weather patterns – not to mention the spiraling cost of electricity.

Cool Thinking

Considering that the cooler months are shorter than the Spring / Summer period (in most of SA it’s about 40% to 60%) combining heating / cooling functions is an intelligent solution: i.e. air-con units that also provide a heating facility. 2011 models are far more energy efficient and with Eskom power ever escalating, cost-cutting solutions are vital.

Unfortunately, many South African houses haven’t been constructed, insulated or positioned correctly in order to minimise the amount of air-conditioning required to keep temperatures bearable throughout the summer months. Ongoing, as global warming increases, many thousand more people are likely to use air-conditioners for
longer periods.

On the downside then, the spike in electricity and water consumption connected to air-conditioner
usage could cost consumers and the environment a great deal. In addition, power utility transformers may overheat and fail when air-conditioning usage hits a peak, causing prolonged blackouts.

Shaun Scannel of LG Electronics says: ‘One of the main differences between European and South African homes is that ours are poorly insulated, which results in variable heat loss during winter months and the gaining of heat in summer. The result is that South African dwellings require higher capacity air-conditioners to cool / heat these very variable climatic conditions.

May/June 2011 Issue

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