Press Releases

QDM was commissioned to design and install a solar-powered EV charging station for Bulungula Eco Lodge

Every now and then QDM gets the opportunity to be part of something unique and exciting, and we’re always up for the challenge!

More recently, the Bulungula Eco Lodge which is situated on the banks of the beautiful Xhora River Mouth along the Wild Coast of South Africa,  gave us such an opportunity.

Bulungula Eco Lodge is 100% owned and managed by the local community and is completely self-sufficient when it comes to both water and energy, with no municipal service infrastructure in place .  QDM was commissioned to design and install a solar-powered EV charging station for the lodge, in anticipation of their new Mercedes Benz electric vehicle arriving at the beginning of July.   This electric vehicle’s off-grid solar charging solution is the first of its kind for the Wild Coast – an achievement we are very proud to be part of.

After researching a variety of aspects, including load requirements and prevailing weather conditions, QDM installed aninverter system with large enough battery capacity to accommodate the 11kW 3-phase EV charging system.  The solar array is more than adequate to charge the EV directly from solar.  The 64kW battery of the Mercedes Bens EQB can be fully charged (from empty) in 6-8 hours.  With this fully charged battery, a range of approximately 450km can be achieved with room to spare.

Being a community-owned and managed lodge, it was important for QDM to include the local community in the installation of both inverters and panels, and a number of keen young technically-minded ladies and gentlemen were eager to not only show off their existing skills, but to also gain expertise in all aspects of the installation, from physical work to the more intricate programming and setting up of the system.

The lodge itself also received some solar-TLC from QDM back in December, where we installed an inverter system with battery back-up and its own PV array to ensure the beers are always kept cold for their guests.

We would like to congratulate BULUNGULA ECO-LODGE on this achievement and thank them for the opportunity to be a part of this amazing journey – we didn’t want to leave!

  Coca-Cola Fortune Perseverance saves big with QDM & energy efficiency In 2014 one of Coca-Cola Fortune (CCF) depots, Perseverance based in Nelson Mandela Bay approached local Energy Saving Company, Quality Demand Management (QDM), to assist in reducing their monthly energy account. PE-based QDM, known for their roll-out of Eskom’s lighting and sensor retrofit projects in the province, conducted an on-site audit of the Perseverance plant and discovered sustainable energy savings opportunities. Today energy saving is a fundamental component of South Africa’s energy and environmental policies as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions in a more cost effective way than any other energy or climate policy. QDM has played an integral role in pioneering energy efficiency and saving in South Africa with customers benefitting from the reduction in energy costs. This drive for savings is spear headed by Jacques Engelbrecht and his team who believe that, more can be done to stop wasteful energy use. Financial Investment After consultation an investment was made towards energy saving lights and motion sensors. A first point of call for all energy saving projects is to upgrade the lighting fixtures according to the premises exact needs and installing updated technology which can significantly optimize power usage. Coca Cola moved away from the old technology and installed quality energy saving lights. The QDM sensors installed regulate the lights and air-con in the offices and warehouse when there is no occupancy. In the office block savings of around 40% per year were forecast with this project with lighting and air-con expenses accounting for up to 60% of the buildings running costs per year. Results and Return on Investment The installation took three months as 921 indoor and outdoor lights were replaced and 497 sensors were installed. The project saw immediate savings of 45% peaking at 69% in January 2015 averaging out at 52% over the year. Savings accounted for 476 MWh in this 1st year producing an astonishing payback of 3.5 years. To put that in perspective the savings equate to 331 metric tons of CO² or 162 000 kilograms of coal which could power 90 homes for a year or remove 140 tons of garbage sent to landfill sites. The energy saving efforts have been driven by the management at the Perseverance plant with the good news story influencing the way the staff look at energy and how they use it in their own homes. Coca-Cola Fortune Technical Support Manager: Dan Mashiane: “We are very pleased with the savings and will be rolling out this energy saving project to our other sites. QDM have done an excellent job to help us with our sustainability objectives and ensure we continue with responsible business in South Africa.” For more on the QDM success story please visit the website at www.QDM.co.za   PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ESKOM REBATE FOR SOLAR GEYSERS HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 1 MAY 2015.   Click here to request QDM to quote on a water heating solution for your building!   2 December 2014 Jacques & Wendy Engelbrecht runners-up at the 2014 Eskom eta Awards For the past 25 years, the Eskom eta Awards have been recognising and rewarding excellence in energy efficiency. This year the standard of entries shows that energy efficiency and the green movement are no longer just the preserve of tree huggers but has entered the mainstream making business sense. The winners of the prestigious Eskom eta Awards were announced at the annual awards evening, held at the University of Johannesburg on 28 November 2014. These prestigious awards were initially established to create awareness and encourage action in the energy efficiency field and have grown from strength to strength forming part of Eskom’s drive to ensure a sustainable electricity supply long into the future. “This year I have been blown away by the quality of the entries. We’re no longer just seeing people experimenting with unusual ideas, we’re seeing businesses, homeowners and young people rising to the challenge of climate change with their innovative ideas,” says Dr Steve Lennon, Eskom Group Executive of Sustainability. In the Energy Saving in Household category Jacques & Wendy Engelbrecht from Port Elizabeth were announced as the 2014 runner-up in this fast-growing category. Their grid-tie home in Greenshields Park is the fruit of their successful energy saving measures & change in behaviour over the years. From energy efficient lighting and gas appliances to now a full hybrid solar system the Engelbrechts are a testimony of what can be done when we take charge of our own energy needs. “In South Africa we have always tackled problems head on and we have a wealth of skills and talent in a variety of areas. This combination is proving particular strong when tackling issues of energy efficiency.  Just like Jacques & Wendy more and more South Africans are looking for ways to save energy every year and cut their expenses; at the Eskom eta Awards we applaud these people,” said Dr Lennon. Jacques Engelbrecht: “We are honoured that we were selected for this special award. Seeing what the young designers in our country are doing is outstanding. I take my hat off to their creativity, innovation and the savings they achieved. Our country is in good hands! It was a privilege to be part of the eta Awards and we are inspired to continue sharing the message of Energy Saving in our community!” For more info on the awards go to www.eta-awards.co.za   Press Release – 23 October 2014 QDM’s Jacques & Wendy Engelbrecht finalists at the 2014 Eskom eta Awards For many people energy saving at home is a daunting task but for Jacques & Wendy Engelbrecht, owners of Quality Demand Management, small changes made over time have landed them in the 2014 Eskom eta Awards as finalists in the Energy Saving in Households category. For over two decades, the Eskom eta Awards have been recognising and rewarding excellence in energy efficiency. The awards encourage entries across a variety of spectrums, including the commercial, industrial, residential, innovation and youth sectors. “In South Africa we have a strong culture of problem solving and we are overflowing with talent. This is a powerful combination, especially when tackling important issues like energy efficiency. More and more South Africans are looking for ways to save energy every year. Learners want to make a difference, households are cutting costs, and large companies are working hard to reduce their use of electricity and save vital resources and we applaud their efforts at the Eskom eta Awards,” said Dr Steve Lennon, Eskom Group Executive of Sustainability. Starting with simply changing their old incandescent light bulbs to energy saving ones Jacques & Wendy have managed to adapt their behaviour to become more aware of energy use over the years. The journey included changing to gas appliances & geysers to now a fully hybrid solar system that allows them to be self-reliant. The news of their success and return on their investment has been so significant that the process from start of energy saving to where they are today has only taken them 4 years, spilling over now into the community and into their core business. Jacques & Wendy will be representing Port Elizabeth at the 2014 Eskom eta Awards where the winners will be announced on the 28th November in Gauteng. The prestigious Eskom eta awards were initially established in order to create awareness and encourage action in the energy efficiency field. They have grown from strength to strength, and form part of Eskom’s drive to ensure a sustainable electricity supply long into the future.   Press Release – 15 September 2014 New Season for QDM Trading! Over the past 4 months we have been making a very important transition as a company from primarily been known as Electro Sense Eastern Cape to now Quality Demand Management (QDM) We want to thank you, our valued customers, for your support and good standing over the years and look forward to sharing our expanded brand & services personally with you in the near future.