29 August 2012, Sweetcrude, ABUJA – STAKEHOLDERS in the nation’s energy and environment sectors have reiterated support for adoption of the energy efficiency initiative of the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, and Global environment facility, GEF, aimed at transforming the county’s energy system.
They also charged government agencies, non-governmental organisations, international organisations and the private sector to give their support to the on-going energy efficiency initiative of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, ECN.
The call was made during the official commissioning of the Energy Efficiency Retrofit of Energy Commission of Nigeria at its head quarters building in Abuja.
The ECN headquarters building is currently undergoing energy efficient retrofit under the UNDP initiative.
The project is expected to cut power utilization at the building by 15,021 watts at peak period, representing about 50 percent of the amount of energy spent on lighting alone.
The innovative project estimated to cost about N20 million is expected to be completed in two months time.
The project according to GEF is part of the wider $3 million UNDP-Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and Nigeria Energy Efficiency Programme, NEEP, designed to promote energy efficiency in both private and public places across the country.
The retrofit project awarded to Schneider Electric Nigeria kicked off last week with the official flag-off conducted .
Highlighting the key elements of the project, the National Project Coordinator of UNDP GEF Programme, Etiosa Uyigue, said that the project comprised replacement of 413 pieces of two feat linear fluorescent lamps; 408 pieces of four feat linear fluorescent lamps and installation of solar power lighting on the third floor of the building on peak reduction.
It also include installation of sensor in common rooms and standardising of the circuit to reduce loss of energy with 17 years life span of the low efficiency technology.
It is estimated to bring a peak reduction of about 15,021 watts of electricity in the entire building, at the cost of N20 million.
He also called on other organizations to embrace the opportunity provided by the initiative to save the huge loss of energy in their various establishments and make more energy available for other uses.
In his address, the Director General, ECN, Professor Abubakar Sambo while commending the UNDP for choosing the commission said that adaptation to energy efficiency in Nigeria had become inevitable because the 4,000 Mega Watts currently being generated by the country for over 150 million people is grossly inadequate.
He said that so much attention had been given to energy generation and distribution with little or no attention on energy conservation, saying that an estimated 40% of energy generated in Nigeria is wasted from inefficient equipments and human behaviour.
According to Prof. Sambo, of the 167 million population in the country, only about 40% gain access to electricity, and most of them live in the urban areas.
To achieve a good energy efficient system, the DG said that Nigeria must adopt the use of improved technology products and change in people’s behavioural approach to energy usage to make more energy available.
He listed some of the importance of energy efficiency as: saving of national and personal income, more people having access to energy, reduction in building of power stations, help in reduction of GHDs, reduce reliance on primary sources of energy and generation of employment.