Thesis (MDF (Development Finance))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the level of acceptance, awareness, and willingness to pay for a solar water heater in Cape Town. When referring to 'acceptance' the study is referring to a respondent's preparedness to adopt the use of a solar water heater and to have one installed at his/her home. When referring to the respondent's 'awareness', reference is made to the degree of knowledge a respondent possesses about the use and basic functioning of solar water heaters. The 'willingness to pay' is an indication of a respondent's preparedness to pay for a solar water heater and how much he/she is prepared to pay. This research was initiated because it was felt that more households in the middle and upper-income sector should be making use of solar water heaters in Cape Town in an effort to reduce their electricity consumption. Furthermore, it is in this income sector that we find the greatest consumption of electricity for the sale purpose of heating water. A questionnaire was compiled to gauge the knowledge, opinion and acceptance of solar water heaters in Cape Town. These questionnaires were distributed in various suburbs within Cape Town, and focused on middle-income to upper-income groups. The middle and upper-income households would install solar water heaters if they received an incentive such as state subsidies. These households also need further education in relation to solar water heaters because their knowledge in this regard seems limited. Aesthetics and costs also seem to influence whether the middle and upper-income group would install solar water heaters, and income may also play a role in group affiliation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing fokus op die aanvaarding, bewustheid en bereidheid om vir sonkrag waterverhitters te betaal in Kaapstad. Die verwysing na 'aanvaarding' dui op die respondent se gewilligheid om die sonkrag-waterverhitter te gebruik en om een in sy/haar huis te installeer. Die verwysing na die respondente se 'bewustheid', dui op hulle kennis oor die basiese werking van 'n sonkrag-waterverhitter. Die 'bereidheid' om te betaal is 'n aanduiding van die respondent se bereidheid om te betaal vir 'n sonkrag-waterverhitter en hoeveel hy/sy bereid is om daarvoor te betaal. Hierdie navorsing is onderneem omdat die gevoel bestaan dat nie baie huise in die middel- en hoe-inkomste huishoudings gebruik maak van 'n sonkrag-waterverhitter om hul elektrisiteitsverbruik te verminder nie. Die huishoudings in hierdie inkomstesegment is die grootste verbruikers van elektrisiteit slegs vir die verhitting van water. 'n Vraelys is opgestel om die kennis, opinie, en aanvaarding van sonkrag-waterverhitters in Kaapstad te bepaal. Die vraelyste is in verskeie woongebiede in Kaapstad versprei, met 'n fokus op die middel- en hoë-inkomste huishoudings. Die huishoudings in die middel- en hoë-inkomstesegment sal sonkrag-waterverhitters installeer as hulle 'n aansporing kry soos 'n staatsubsidie. Die respondente van die middel en hoë-inkomste huishoudings het verdere opvoeding nodig rakende sonkragwaterverhitters, want hul kennis in die verband is min. Dit blyk of estetiese en koste-oorwegings die middel- en hoë-inkomste huishoudings beinvloed met betrekking tot die installasie van sonkrag-waterverhitters, en inkomste mag ook 'n rol speel ten opsigte van groepaffiliasie.