New air conditioner energy standards will attract economic and environmental development

Calls for more consumer awareness

From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja

The federal government has approved new Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air conditioners to reduce electricity costs and promote environmental sustainability.

The Director-General/CEO of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, made this known at a collaborative workshop with the United Nations Environment Programme to showcase project achievements and present the contents of the approved air conditioner minimum energy performance standards, on Tuesday, in Abuja.

Dr Abdullahi stated that the implementation and enforcement of the landmark standard will bring both economic and environmental development to the nation.

He added that the new standard will not only enhance energy savings for individuals and the nation but also lead to a reduction in energy demand.

The DG highlighted the importance of public awareness of the new air conditioner energy standards, stressing the need to regulate the quality of products imported and produced in the country.

“There is the need to communicate the success made in this Project to the Nigerian public, specifically creating awareness on the new air conditioner energy standards, as stakeholders in Nigeria, especially critical stakeholders like the national regulatory bodies, manufacturers and importers of air conditioners need to be aware about the standards.”

The DG therefore appreciated the Clean Cooling Collaborative and United Nations Environment Programme for providing technical and financial support for this project.

Recall that the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is implementing the project titled “Scaling up Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution Revision”, which is supported financially by the Clean Cooling Collaborative (CCC).

The ECN has been implementing the project since 2022, with the objective of accelerating the use of energy-efficient air conditioners with climate-friendly refrigerants in residential, commercial, and public buildings, aligning with Nigeria’s climate targets in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Acting Director of Energy Transition and Linkages, Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Shehu Mustafa, said collective effort is crucial for enhancing energy efficiency and promoting climate-friendly cooling solutions.

He said recommendations from key stakeholders from the government and private sectors are critical and impactful for the actualisation of the project.

In his presentation, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) representative, Jose Carbajosa, Recycling Expert, Climate Mitigation Branch, UNEP – Paris, said the project’s overall goal is to accelerate the use of energy-efficient air conditioners with climate-friendly refrigerants used in residential, commercial, and public buildings.

He added that the objective is to align with Nigeria’s climate targets in the Nationally Determined Contributions.