Technical Bulletins

Low cost housing

Could sandbag house technology be the solution to SA’s low cost housing need? (25/04/2014)

EES Africa (Pty) Ltd, ISO 9001:2008 certified company specialising in technology management, engineering and auditing, will be assisting Heart Capital, an impact investment company, in the next step of its E-Khaya Housing Solutions initiative.

The initiative comprises the roll out of innovative, sustainable, cost-effective houses constructed using sandbag technology. Heart Capital tackles social and environmental problems at grassroots level.

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Port Security

An integrated security system (ISS) will optimise global port security (26/03/2014)

Security threats, sabotage and acts of terrorism are becoming progressively more advanced throughout the world. The marine industry is seeing increasing piracy attacks on sea vessels globally and especially off the coast of East Africa, and ports are becoming more vulnerable to threats to national security.

It is therefore vital to enhance and optimise the security of ships and port facilities worldwide. Technological advances, particularly leading edge developments in integrated security systems, are being used to do this.

“Today technological advances in control, integration and connectivity play an integral role in port security and protection of ports against national security threats,” explains Jaco Cronje, Director at EES Africa Pty Ltd (EES). EES, an ISO 9001:2008 certified company, provides management, engineering and auditing services, and specialises in the integration of multiple system infrastructure.

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Renewable energy

Proposed increase in SA’s solar renewable energy will lead to positive spin-offs (28/02/2014)

A key revision outlined in South Africa’s draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) revision (Update report 2013), is the proposed substantial increase in solar renewable energy capacity, both Photovoltaic (PV) and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP).

The draft IRP revision proposes that the PV allocation be increased by 1330 MW, while CSP allocation, which to date has only been given a low MW capacity, be increased by a substantial 2100 MW. The increased solar energy allocation, if implemented, would of course contribute to alleviating the country’s inconsistent, unreliable power supply, by diversifying energy resources and boosting energy security.

However, as importantly, it would lead to a number of very positive spin-offs and benefits, which would help overcome other challenges confronting South Africa.

Read more: Renewable energy