SON to ensure compliance with energy saving appliances

 
imageThe Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has promised to ensure that Nigerians comply with minimum standards on the kind of electrical equipment used in the country, especially refrigerators and air conditioners.

Dr Paul Angya, the acting Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) who made the pledge in Lagos yesterday, said this would not ensure that Nigerian remains energy-efficient but that it is also not exposed to the dangers of using substandard electrical appliances.

Angya who spoke at the conclusion of a two-day technical committee meeting on standards and labels for air conditioners in Lagos, said Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind in a critical area where about 84 countries are already implementing energy-efficient standards in terms of the kinds of air-conditioners and refrigerators they allow in the domains.
sonPraising the technical committee for the doggedness in recommendation minimum standards for the electrical appliances, he said once approved by the SON council, that his agency would begin ensuring compliance with the standards, as a way of safeguarding lives and conserving the environment.

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

Head of Unit, Energy Efficiency at Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), Dr Charles Diarra, which partnered the SON, said his agency was willing to give its backing to any resolution reached to help both efficiency in energy use in the country as well as 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.

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

He made reference to European Union and the United States of America (USA) which though have enough energy, have gone low considerably in its energy use.

He said the committee had set a threshold for Nigeria, which when approved, would enable the country conserve its energy, and also save the people the problem fostered by substandard refrigeration equipment.

He identified three key areas to include, lamps, refrigerators and air conditioners, informing that already, the standards for lamps had been approved, following series of meetings and consultations with the stakeholders, as well as market surveys.
He said a proof of the success of that intervention is that today; all hotels checked in the state were using energy-efficient lamps.

He said the standards for refrigeration have equally been approved, as the template for lamps was used in elaborating for it. The same measure had become necessary in the case of air conditioners so that the country could benefit from the advantage that would accrue.
He said the committee had recommended different labels for the different energy efficiency levels, adding, “This is very important because we need to set a bench mark for the consumption of energy in the country, thereafter, enforcement will commence”.

According to him, the implication is that air conditioners brought in to the country for sale would carry star labels, from one to five, and “once approved, any appliance having less than 2.80 will not be allowed. So, the more the star, the ore efficient the appliance, but obviously the higher in price”.
For air conditioners, he said a total of 18 standards have been recommended by the technical committee awaiting the approval of the SON council.