SON, agency plan energy efficiency in households, public buildings

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) have created a strategic action to improve energy efficiency of equipment used in residential and public buildings in Nigeria.

The acting Director-General of SON, Dr. Paul Angya, said that the agency will facilitate access to information for consultants, set up and support the technical committee for air condition standards and labels that will support the promotion and creation of awareness in the country.

He said Nigeria could not afford to lag behind in a critical area where about 84 countries had already implemented energy –efficient standards in terms of the kinds of air-conditioners and refrigerators are are allowed in the domains.

Angya said: “I believe that these recommendations, once approved, will not be difficult to implement because SON has been part of the committee. Already, equipment for the testing of lamps and refrigerators has been installed in SON. Equipment for the testing of air-conditioners will soon be installed.”

Head of Unit, Energy Efficiency at Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), Dr Charles Diarra, said this would be done through the introduction of appropriate energy efficiency policies, measures and demand-side management programmes in order to strengthen the regulatory and institutional framework, develop monitore and enforcet mechanisms, provide training to appliance and equipment professionals, and launch a public outreach campaign to promote energy efficiency in Nigeria.

The initiative, according to him, is focused on three main appliances- lamps, refrigerators and air conditioning with labels provided on each appliance, which identifies how much energy is been saved.

He explained his agency was willing to give its backing to any resolution reached to help both efficiency in energy use in the country and the safety of electrical appliances.

He said the NESP had been active in the Nigerian economy, using various planks of engagement, including energy policy, rural electrification, capacity development and political reform support, adding that his organisation had also supported the training managers in energy management efficiency, and that thus far, under its auspices, over 45 participants from 20 countries had been trained.

Richard Adewunmi, who presented the technical committee perspective, said it has become necessary for Nigeria to tinker how to maximise the little energy it is able to generate, in order to avoid waste.