November 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
33
projects & contracts
“THIS ENERGY SAVING
project, which ini-
tially involved the installation of 12 modules
on the roof of the double storey house, was
so impressive to the home owner, a further
36 modules were added to the system,” says
Alain Baert, director, Genset & Solar Power
Solutions, specialists in photovoltaic systems
and backup power.
“Prior to the installation of the PV sys-
tem, the household used between 65 and
100 kWh a day from the Eskom grid and now
with solar power, even in the winter months
when there is a greater demand for heating,
electricity consumption has been reduced to
a maximum of 15 kWh a day.
“One of the greatest benefits of this
installation is peace of mind for the home
owner and his family. A well-designed PV
system ensures an unfailing electricity sup-
ply and therefore a dependable security
system that is never compromised by power
failures – an increasingly worrying problem
in the Hilton area.”
ARTsolar utilises the latest environmen-
tally-friendly PV technology to convert solar
energy to electricity. This technology is gain-
ingpopularity globally as a formof renewable
energy that is clean, emission and noise-free,
sustainable, safe and cost efficient.
PVmodules in this installation are used for
normal electrical requirements in the home,
including lighting, water heating, the security
alarm system and swimming pool pump, as
well as for luxuries, like under-floor heating
and heated towel rails.
In the event of a power cut, this system
is already active, with no noise at all and the
homeowner is not aware there has been a
disruption in normal power. For this reason, a
green light has been installed in the kitchen,
which illuminates when themunicipal power
is down. The home owner has also built a
secure store room to house the solar meter
inside his property to prevent intruders from
attempting to cut the power.
These PVmodules, which encompass the
latest designs, quality materials and manu-
facturing techniques, are standard ARTsolar
“THE RECENTLY REVAMPED
Ear Institute
premises in Polokwane, was previously
a consulting room for doctors,” says Roy
Kirkpatrick, from Kirkpatrick & Son, the
contractors on the redevelopment. “The
250 m
2
house was upgraded to accom-
modate the needs of the Ear Institute, a
specialised sector within the healthcare
industry, but one that does have a sub-
stantial clientele requiring a professional
environment with safe and secure parking”.
The project’s client chose the Bond-
Bricks and CobbleBond pavers and paving
blocks that Technicrete offers. The choice
Hilton energy saving project
Genset & Solar Power Solutions has recently completed the installation
of a photovoltaic (PV) solar system – run by 48 ARTsolar PV modules
– at a home in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal.
Genset & Solar Power Solutions has recently com-
pleted the installation of a photovoltaic (PV) solar
system – run by 48 ARTsolar PV modules
– at a home in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal.
Upgrading the Ear Institute
mono modules with white backsheets.
What is notable about these PVmodules is
the 25 year guaranteeofferedbyARTsolar and
an estimated 40 year lifetime of themodules.
Other features include easy installation and
lowmaintenance requirements – apart from
occasional cleaning. All modules are locally
manufactured according to stringent qual-
ity, environmental and safety specifications.
ARTsolar’s locally manufactured PV mod-
ules, are locally designed for large scale power
plants, mines and rural electrification, as well
as industrial roofing.
Modules with enhanced aesthetics are
manufactured for residential and commercial
installations. This environmentally-friendly
system can also be integrated into roofs
and façades to reduce the energy buildings
consume.
The PV system for this installation, which
also includes locally manufactured MLT
inverters and EXIDE batteries, has added
substantial value to the home.
“It is very rewarding to hear this home
owner describe how safe he and his family
now feel at night during a power outage,
when they have electricity and they know
their security system is fully functional –
when surrounding homes are in darkness,”
Baert concludes.
●
The Ear Institute, a South African managed medical facility with 19
centres throughout South Africa and Namibia recently upgraded
their Polokwane ear testing centre.
of using the BondBrick in complimentary
colours of plum and tan, coupled with the
Autumn shade of CobbleBond has resulted
in the re-established driveway and parking
facilities having a colourful and aesthetically
pleasing cobbled finish, that will stand the
test of frequent vehicle and foot traffic for
some time.
As an example of no project being too
small to consider,Technicrete supplied 40m
2
of both the 100mmx 200mmx 50 BondBrick
tan and plumpavers and 1 800m
2
of Autumn
CobbleBond paving blocks of the same size.
“We had to remove the existing paving,
which was transferred for re-laying on the
pavement, trees and garden bushes were
removed. Then we ripped, and re-com-
pacted the soil before laying the brand new
pavers. Once the project was completed,
the final image was not only colourful and
professionally finished but created the
sense of a smooth and easy access/exit at
the complex,”says Kirkpatrick.
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