The Southern African Association for Energy Efficiency aired their 100th radio show: The Green Hour on Nelson Mandela Bay’s community radio station KingfisherFM.

The radio show, which was started in mid 2011 by KingfisherFM presenter Gareth Burley, aimed to educate and empower listeners to save energy and keep the lights on as the country faces an energy crisis. Dubbed the ‘national conversation on energy efficiency’ this energy saving focussed radio show attracted listeners from around the country through the live streaming available through the stations website. Guests ranged from MD’s of major companies to house wives and children who shared their stories of success in energy saving.

From schools and FET colleges to wind farms, hotels to government officials, the show has been a celebration of South Africans playing their part to reduce the load on our electricity system and keep the lights on. In 2012 Eskom recognized the excellent work done by The Green Hour and presented the show with the national eta Award for Energy Efficiency Awareness. And the international organization Association for Energy Engineers awarded The Green Hour the 2012 International Best Community Award based at a ceremony in the USA.

SAEE president Karel Steyn, a guest on the 100th show, said: ‘The Green Hour has been a dream of the SAEE for a long time where a group of South Africans share their stories and best practice of energy saving. Like the power alert messages we see on TV the Green Hour has been an excellent tool to educate the public on how to manage energy. The Green Hour is a winning recipe that the rest of the country can learn from and we hope to expand to other radio stations and even TV.’

Gareth Burley, the host of the show made special mention on the show of the amazing guests and partners who have supported the show including the SAEE, Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, the Regional Innovation Forum and Eskom. Burley says: ‘The Green Hour will continue to share these good-news green-stories of not only the Nelson Mandela Bay region but from across the country for many shows to come! We have lots of work to still do!’ The Green Hour airs on KingfisherFM SpecSavers BIG Breakfast on Wednesdays 8-9am. For more information contact the Green Hour team at easterncape@saee.org.za or listen to the shows at www.greenhour.saee.org.za