Nairobi, Kenya – Pressure Geyser Solar Water Heating
The Energy (Solar Water Heating) Regulations, 2012 (the Regulations) require that all domestic dwellings or residential houses, commercial buildings (including hotels, lodges, clubs, restaurants, cafeterias, laundries, eating places and similar premises), health institutions (including hospitals, health centres, clinics and similar medical facilities) and educational institutions (including universities, colleges, boarding schools and similar institutions) with hot water (60 °C) requirements of a capacity exceeding one hundred litres per day (the Affected Buildings) shall install and use solar water heating systems (Solar Heaters) within five years from the date on which the Regulations came into force.
Kenya’s Energy Regulatory Commission (the ERC) is set to begin countrywide spot checks and inspections of Affected Buildings to ensure that they are in compliance with the Regulations, which came into force on 4 April 2012. The ERC’s authority to carry out inspections emanates from section 7 of the Regulations and section 24 of the Energy Act (No. 12 of 2012), which empower the ERC to enter any premises for the purposes of carrying out the objects of the Act through its committee or agents.
Owners of Affected Buildings that were constructed before the Regulations took effect (Pre-existing Affected Buildings) have until April 2017 to install Geyser Solar Water Heating, failing which they may find themselves liable to a fine not exceeding KSH. 1 million and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.
While owners of Pre-existing Affected Buildings still have a two-year window to install Geyser Solar Water Heating in their premises, developers, owners, architects and engineers engaged in the design and construction of new buildings and extensions or alterations of Pre-existing Affected Buildings have to comply immediately. For new or upcoming buildings, the Regulations have the potential to have far reaching effects because they impose an obligation on any electric power distributor or supplier (including the Kenya Power and Lighting Company) to refrain from providing electricity to any Affected Buildings if Solar Heaters have not been installed in accordance with the Regulations.
We have been working actively in Kenya in the Housing Sector. Helping provide Geyser Solar Water Heating Energy Savings. Engaging with communities to deliver the highest quality solutions from Europe’s Leading Solar Panel Manufacturer. In Kenya the average salary / income per family is approx…. KES 6,498($ 80) a month.
The average Family spends around KES 1,000($ 10) a month on electricity bills. Since installing the solar water heating system there has been a saving of KES 700($ 7) which is roughly 70% of the energy bill.
Geyser Solar Water Heating has been used in cooking as this cuts the gas and Electricity costs since the water takes less time to boil. The Solar Hot Water is used for bathing and washing and has negated the cost to heat water. Before installing the solar panels the water was heated with the use of gas and electricity, this has now stopped hence reducing the cost of energy to the family.
The financial impact has been huge. Thanks to solar water heating we are able to save approx…. 10% + of the monthly income.
