…As SON initiates policy to encourage energy efficiency
Oscarline Onwuemenyi
05 September 2017, Sweetcrude, Abuja – Nigeria’s first building energy efficiency code was officially launched by the Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.
The programme is a partnership with German Development Agency (GIZ), Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) and the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.
Speaking at the event, Fashola stressed the importance and relevance of energy efficiency in buildings in cost and power consumption saving. He explained that adopting energy efficiency in building construction would lead to job creation, citing “retrofitting old, non-compliant buildings could create a new crop of jobs that previously were non-existent.”
He said that the building energy efficiency guideline informed professionals on how to design, construct and operate energy efficient buildings.
The national building energy efficiency code is a set of minimum standards for energy efficient building in Nigeria. It was developed and compiled by GIZ, in collaboration with South African sustainability consultants, Solid Green, who served as primary consultants on the code.
Input was also received from the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) and the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing along with allied professional bodies including but not limited to the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and the Green Building Council of Nigeria (GBCN).
The launch was attended by representatives from the private sector, FCT Department of Development Control, professional institutes, regulatory bodies and ministries.
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is finally getting on the Energy Efficiency train with the rest of the world. The Organisation introduced an initiative called the National Energy Efficiency Label for Air conditioners and electrical appliances with the aim of encouraging the use of energy efficient electrical appliances amongst electricity consumers in Nigeria.
This policy is expected to put an end to the manufacturing and importation of high energy consuming household electrical items in not too distant future.
This will be achieved by making it mandatory for all Items Household items like Air Conditioners (AC) Electrical Appliances & Equipment to have details of their Compliance with Energy Efficiency bold written or printed on the items.
The details to be shown are the appliance’s energy consumption pattern or energy demand, the load on the appliance in a month and the wattage of the appliance.
Before this, other independent organisations like the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) have made remarkable efforts to promote energy efficiency. PHED initiated an energy efficiency enlightenment program that educates its customers on the advantages of energy efficiency and how to recognise and use energy efficient appliances
SON introduced the policy at the Nigeria Energy Support Programme (NESP) meeting held in the nation’s capital Abuja.
According to the Director General and Chief Executive SON, “Energy is a critical component of any home or organisation with a heavy cost centre depending on activities and usage, even though this can be controllable with a systemic and sustainable energy management system.
He said, “SON is introducing the NIS ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems Standard that is acclaimed worldwide to have helped industrial facilities improve their energy performances and achieve energy cost reduction by 10% within 18 months of obtaining certification.”
He further remarked that the Standard can be used by industrial plants, commercial institutions or government facilities, large and small scale organizations both in public and private sector such as the manufacturing and services and private homes.
The SON DG also stated that SON will be providing training and third party certification on NIS ISO 50001 standard on Energy Management System that will help organizations to comply with regulatory and industry compliance on carbon emission reduction, reduce business costs, waste and defect reduction, improve competitiveness, business continuity, resilience, competitiveness, attainment of business objectives and improve procurement procedures.
SON has developed 19 Minimum Energy Performance Standards for Air Conditioners (ACs) as well as the national energy efficiency label for electrical appliances and equipment. The first amongst these to be implemented is the Energy Efficiency label soon to be made mandatory for all air conditioner manufactured in Nigeria or imported into the country to have it affixed on products in conformity with the minimal requirements of the standard.
