June 2009

Pretoria - In an effort to reduce the number of fires during the winter period, the Tshwane Community Safety Department launched a Basic Emergency Safety and Fire Education (BESAFE) centre in Soshanguve, Kopanong Section.

The centre, situated at the Council's Komiki Motubatse Hall, comprises of a tin container that has been turned into a model house.

The house is used to demonstrate how various household appliances should be handled in order that unnecessary fires could be avoided.

These include gas stoves, electrical appliances and paraffin stoves.

"Most of the fires in informal settlement are often caused by poor handling of paraffin stoves and lamps, gas canisters that burst, and faulty electrical appliances, especially illegal connections," the department said.

The centre is part of the Fire Brigade Service's Public Information, Education and Relations (PIER) programme.

Through this programme the Fire Brigade Services embarks on educational and public awareness campaigns to educate communities about the dangers of fire, how to avoid disasters, and how to handle fires.

By Neo Semono

Pretoria - The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has granted power utility Eskom a 31.3 percent interim tariff hike.

"A 31.3 percent price increase on the average standard tariff is approved from 1 July 2009 to 31 March 2010," announced the regulator's Chairman, Collin Matjila, on Thursday.

This will result in an increase of the average standard tariff from 25.24 c/kWh to 33.14c/kWh.

This after the power utility submitted its request for an interim 34 percent hike from the regulator to cover its operational expenditure.

Nersa said the increase will result in estimated tariff revenues of R62.031 billion while the estimated total revenues including Special Pricing Agreements (SPA's) will be R64.70 billion.

This increase also includes a 2cents/KwH levy on the sale of electricity generated from non-renewable sources.

However, the increase includes a limited price increase of 15 percent to both the parastatal and municipalities' poor customers.

The Green Building Conference 2009 is just a month away. The last of the speakers are confirming and the seats at the conference are almost filled. For those corporates, home-owners, and professionals who haven't booked, now is the time.

Features and focuses this year include the following:
The Green over the Grey : Emilio Ambasz, Emilio Ambasz Associates Inc - USA

This presentation will be looking at the balance between mankind and the environment within the built environment context. By taking landscape into consideration of design, multi-awarded architect, Emilio Ambasz will aiming to find the solution of integrating "Architecture with Nature."