Nemushungwa, A. I.Nkondo, L. G.Sikhitha, Fhatuwani Robert2025-08-202025-08-202025-05-16Sikhitha, F.R. 2025. An Exploration of the Effects of Solar Water Heaters on Selected Households In Thulamela Local Municipality: Challenges and Benefits. . .https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/2870M.Com. (Economics)Department of EconomicsSouth Africa has abundant coal supplies, so electricity costs are significantly lower than in other countries, albeit the advantage of lower energy costs is slowly being eroded. The low electricity costs have l ed to the widespread use of appliances that almost exclusively utilizes electricity, including heating water through conventional electric geysers. Electric geysers account for anything between 25% and 40% of average household s monthly electricity bill this cost can be prevented through the use of Solar Water Heaters (SWH), given South Africa s high solar radiation levels. SWH has high initial costs compared with conventional electric geysers; however, they have short buyback periods which is further reduced whenever electricity tariffs escalate. Moreover, they have a relatively long lifespan of around twenty to twenty five years, which implies that if households can switch from conventional geysers to SWH s , they can essentially enjoy hot water for free for the remaining lifespan of the SWH s , thus ensuring significant financial savings and potential additional funds for household expenditures. Switching to SHW , potentially confers socio economic, environmental, and health benefits , to households.1 online resource (x, 96 leaves): color illustrations, color mapsenUniversity of VendaSolar water heatersUCTDBuyback periodsBenefits of solar water heatersDissertationSikhitha FR. An Exploration of the Effects of Solar Water Heaters on Selected Households In Thulamela Local Municipality: Challenges and Benefits. []. , 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from:Sikhitha, F. R. (2025). <i>An Exploration of the Effects of Solar Water Heaters on Selected Households In Thulamela Local Municipality: Challenges and Benefits</i>. (). . Retrieved fromSikhitha, Fhatuwani Robert. <i>"An Exploration of the Effects of Solar Water Heaters on Selected Households In Thulamela Local Municipality: Challenges and Benefits."</i> ., , 2025.TY - Dissertation AU - Sikhitha, Fhatuwani Robert AB - South Africa has abundant coal supplies, so electricity costs are significantly lower than in other countries, albeit the advantage of lower energy costs is slowly being eroded. The low electricity costs have l ed to the widespread use of appliances that almost exclusively utilizes electricity, including heating water through conventional electric geysers. Electric geysers account for anything between 25% and 40% of average household s monthly electricity bill this cost can be prevented through the use of Solar Water Heaters (SWH), given South Africa s high solar radiation levels. SWH has high initial costs compared with conventional electric geysers; however, they have short buyback periods which is further reduced whenever electricity tariffs escalate. Moreover, they have a relatively long lifespan of around twenty to twenty five years, which implies that if households can switch from conventional geysers to SWH s , they can essentially enjoy hot water for free for the remaining lifespan of the SWH s , thus ensuring significant financial savings and potential additional funds for household expenditures. Switching to SHW , potentially confers socio economic, environmental, and health benefits , to households. DA - 2025-05-16 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - Solar water heaters KW - Buyback periods KW - Benefits of solar water heaters LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2025 T1 - An Exploration of the Effects of Solar Water Heaters on Selected Households In Thulamela Local Municipality: Challenges and Benefits TI - An Exploration of the Effects of Solar Water Heaters on Selected Households In Thulamela Local Municipality: Challenges and Benefits UR - ER -