Green home a dream
Care centre cuts water, electricity bill with eco project
FROM paying between R10 000 and R15 000 every month for their water and electricity bill, to paying only R5 000 is a dream come through for the East London Child and Youth Care Centre (ELCYCC) in Beacon Bay.
This comes after they launched their new greening project earlier this year. The department of economic, environmental affairs and tourism committed to support this project for a further three years.
According to ELCYCC acting director Vuyelwa Mahlahla, the centre got to know about the municipality greening project from their German volunteers who knew they were battling to pay their water and lights bill.
“It’s so helpful. We kill two birds with one stone because not only does it reduce our water and lights bill, but we also have a beautiful garden here at our Beacon Bay house.
“We have a small garden full of cabbage, spinach and lettuce and the kids love and nurture it as well. We no longer buy our green vegetables.
“We have a bio-digester that converts kitchen and garden waste into cooking gas,” Mahlahla said.
“In addition to producing gas, the bio-digester also generates nutrient- rich overflow water which feeds the centre’s food gardens.”
The home also boasts two solar water geysers.
Mahlahla said they hope to start the project at their Glen Stella campus soon.
The Beacon Bay home provides a safe place for 15 children who have suffered abuse and neglect.
Eastern Cape department of eco- nomic development and environmental affairs MEC Sakhumzi Somyo said the project would have a positive effect on the sustainability of the centre’s programmes.
“I am very optimistic about the project and the department’s three-year commitment working with a view to support replication elsewhere in the province and in particular, in the rural areas,” she said.
Mahlahla advised other children’s homes to start the project as it would be very helpful and reduce costs.