In an effort towards being more eco-friendly and sustainable, the Table Mountain Cableway has invested in a carbon neutral program that offsets their carbon emissions through a low carbon initiative located in Khayelitsha.
The Table Mountain Cableway has made use of carbon offsetting since 2016, which means that carbon dioxide emissions are counteracted with an equal reduction in carbon emissions found in the atmosphere.
On average the Cableway service offsets 1 513,76 tonnes of emissions per year through its partnership with the Kuyasa Housing Project in Khayelitsha.
Carbon emissions are produced by planes, cars, factories, and other human activities. These emissions act as poison to the environment and very harmful to our atmosphere.
The Kuyasa Housing Project has provided solar water heater mechanisms, ceilings and compact fluorescent energy efficient light bulbs (CFLs) to about 2 100 Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP) houses in 2014.
The implementation of these energy efficient mechanisms saves households money that would have otherwise been spent on coal-fired electricity, improves indoor air quality and helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The partnership with Kuyasa Housing Project has enabled Table Mountain Cableway to be involved in sustainability measures to reduce carbon emissions and invest in a project that helps give back to the local communities.
The Table Mountain Cableway’s Managing Director, Wahida Parker, has said the Cableway’s current annual carbon emissions are caused by electricity, gas, fuel consumption, waste and water.
“We are extremely conscious of our carbon footprint and are committed to abiding by global initiatives in making sure our planet survives long after we have left. The Kuyasa Housing Project has already made a noticeable difference in the community and we look forward to seeing it grow,” she said.
The Kuyasa Housing project aims to provide this service to 2 000 more houses in Khayelitsha and its surrounds, improving the quality of life for its residents and helping the environment.
The Housing Project’s Manager, Zuko Mdamene, said that the Housing Project does more than just provide a clean environment for the residence.
“Ours was the first project in Africa to register under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and we have been slowly growing ever since. We want to give more people the gift of upliftment that our installations provide. Through our own growth, we can bring change to more lives and create more jobs,” said Mdamene.
Picture: Table Mountain Cableway