Home automation is on the rise across the globe and South Africa is swiftly following suit. It’s easy to see why, as tomorrow’s tech savvy consumers can easily control energy efficiency, ensure safety, and reduce their carbon footprint, conveniently from the palm of their hands thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT).
In the 2023 National Budget Speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced several measures aimed at addressing South Africa’s energy crisis, but it is difficult to predict whether these efforts will be enough, considering the complex and multifaceted nature of the situation. However, they represent a step in the right direction.
The World Economic Forum says that the carbon footprint of homes represents around 20% of all global CO2 emissions, with the residential sector expected to become the most prominent electricity consumer by 2050.
In 2022, South African short-term insurers reported a 60% increase in claims for destruction to people’s property due to power surges as a consequence of load shedding.
Not only is load shedding costing South Africa around R 4 billion a day, it is also pushing the country into a technical recession due to quarter-on-quarter economic declines, according to both ABSA and Citibank. To resolve this, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced several reforms in his recently delivered Medium Term Budget Policy Statement.