Optimal Energy blanket drive

Parts of South Africa are experiencing one of the coldest winters for many years and while most of us enjoy the comforts of warm clothes and blankets to protect us from the cold, many are forced to spend their nights being battered by the elements.

One only has to take a drive through our cities to see the amount of destitute people who have nowhere to stay and are forced to spend their nights on the cold streets. 

We called upon the employees of Optimal Energy to open their hearts and show their compassion by donating old winter clothing and blankets as part of a weeklong blanket drive. All collected items were donated to the Nazareth House charity, from where it will be distributed to those in need. 

Over 40 blankets and an assortment of winter clothing were collected, all of which will go a long way in helping individuals who spend long nights out in the cold. The Nazareth House has a constant need for donations of clothing and food, as well as toiletries and other items, and as an NGO, they are reliant on companies or individuals who recognise their need.

As a company, Optimal Energy is always looking for opportunities to give back, while trying to create sustainable solutions at the same time. The Optimal Energy blanket drive was started through the idea that using conventional heaters to stay warm at the office consumes a lot of electricity, especially in spaces without proper insulation.

As a country, we are not exposed to the severe winters that the northern hemisphere experiences, and thus buildings are often not designed to keep warmth inside. This heat loss means that heaters are required to run at high capacity for long periods of time to keep a room warm, using large amounts of electricity and resulting in a lot of wastage.

Using a blanket to keep warm while at the office is a much more sustainable method of fighting the cold, and also a more cost effective one. We urge you all to make use of blankets, instead of using heaters. Together we can make a difference, and also help those who are less fortunate than us.

To make a donation to Nazareth House, please go to http://www.nazhouse.org.za.