Energy efficiency in the African context for the new millennium

The purpose of this paper is to provide you with some examples of how the application of automation albeit with computers and electricity can improve the lot of some users and contribute to carbon emission reduction. The first, computers has been accepted as being a genuine contributor although some minority groups have said that computer displays and cell phones can cause cancer or effect the brain while the second, electricity especially in South Africa contributes to carbon emission through dirty coal fired power stations. Personally I believe those of the first until proven wrong are bordering on the lunatic fringe while the second have a point particularly if you live in Mpumalanga, notably Witbank, in the winter months. Countries like Zambia with huge rivers like the Zambezi and Kafue are fortunate to get away with Hydro power while South Africa will most likely have to adopt the nuclear route as the most viable solution to replace coal. I believe like electric vehicles, a prototype I recall seeing as a recent graduate in the seventies, will take some time to replace the proven internal combustion engine of the last century, though in Europe battery charging stations like petrol filling stations are springing up all over particularly, in Spain. So too renewable energy sources such as wind and solar will take some time to replace those such as coal and nuclear. Therefore by converting from petrol or diesel to electric in South Africa though like moving the problem from the end user to the source, it is a step towards energy efficiency in the long term with the move to nuclear power generation. Nuclear though unpopular in certain circles still remains the cleanest energy source after coal for those countries unable to take advantage of hydro power. Ideally if the DRC could harness the mighty Congo River instead of fighting over its resources like those over the oil resources of Nigeria, then all our pollution problems would be resolved except for lots of expens- ve power transmission lines running south and north. I like the idea I believe Siemens is exploring through Desertec Industrial Initiative (DII) which is to turn the Sahara desert into a plethora of solar panels to feed the energy needs of Europe! Maybe this is how Germany has planned to decommission its nuclear stations.