The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged Nigerians to discourage the use of non-energy-friendly equipment, noting that the move would help reduce the cost consumers incur in powering their appliances in the country.

The Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Farouk Salim, at the commissioning and launch of the AC Bioclimatic Testing Chamber, co-funded by the European Union (EU) and GIZ in Lagos, said the facility is coming at a time when the country is struggling with energy shortages, adding that SON is willing to support any initiative aimed at ensuring Nigeria promotes the use of sustainable energy efficiency systems.

The Director General who was represented by the Director, Product Certification, SON, Tersoo Orngudwem, said: “This is why we are partnering with the Nigeria Energy Support Programme (NESP) to ensure that this comes to reality. We are using this opportunity to encourage Nigerians to use only energy-friendly devices in their houses.” He added: “The Director General, SON, in a short while will be announcing importation of non-energy friendly equipment in our environment.

“We will give a timeframe for phasing out non-energy-friendly equipment. There are market forces and trends determined by the World Trade Organisation (WTO). We cannot just change a policy overnight. We will give a timeframe for phasing out of the equipment and it will be publicly announced so that the importers, manufacturers and consumers know when they will start having the right thing in the market.”

The Director General said that the launch represents a significant leap in the field of testing, particularly in the areas of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) specifically for the testing of air conditioning systems.

“It suffices for the determination and verification of compliances of Air Conditioners to the Minimum Energy Performance Standards & Labels (MEPS &L). I am particularly excited that this specialized testing facility designed for evaluating the performance, energy efficiency, and durability of air conditioning units, will provide a more concerted conformity assessment solution in this sector in Nigeria and across West Africa,” he said.

According to him, global energy challenges and the attendant environmental implications are no longer news but stated the need to find sustainable solutions is of paramount importance. “This collaboration has produced several standards, provided scientific capacity building and culminated in the commissioning of this facility today.

This laboratory is not merely a cutting-edge technology solution for Conformity Assessment Programmes, it is a beacon of hope for the field of Air Conditioning and HVAC; a place where the seeds of innovation would be sown, nurtured, and ultimately, where the fruits of research and development will be harvested to create sustainable, energy-efficient and comfortable living and working environments,” he stressed.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr. Temitope Fashedemi, represented by the Director Renewable and Rural Power Access Department, Abubakar Ali-Dapshima, said the equipment commissioned is a game changer in the energy efficiency industry and remains one of the very important equipment for SON to test air conditioners in the country for maximum performance.

“If the project is fully implemented, I assure you that the equivalent achievement in the power sector is eliminating the small and medium power plants by almost 200. This tells you how we are going to get an efficient power supply which would be released into the system,” he said.

He noted that the cardinal objective of the equipment is to have cleaner energy and eliminate the degradation of the ozone layer by reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The Energy Programme Manager at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Godfrey Ogbemudia, said the EU is working to ensure that standards are put in place to ensure that Nigeria will not be a dumping ground for substandard equipment, but ensuring that any equipment entering into the country meets the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS).

He commended SON for its efforts, stating that the initiative is set to accelerate improvements in the quality and efficiency of air conditioners in the Nigerian market and ultimately encourage private sector investments in the RE/EE sector as a whole.

On his part, the Consulate General, Federal Republic of Germany, Lagos, Jochen Schindelarz, commended the Nigerian Energy Support Programme, as well as its commissioning partners, the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, for their unwavering support to the Nigerian Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency sector, adding that since its inception, the programme has been instrumental in the development of numerous policy and regulatory frameworks, as well as the successful implementation of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and rural electrification projects.

He pointed out that the procurement and installation of the Bioclimatic Testing Chamber for Air Conditioners, among other initiatives, signify Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with its ambitious goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.

“Germany, as a steadfast ally, has consistently supported the Nigerian Government in its pursuit of economic growth, with a particular focus on critical sectors such as renewable energy and energy efficiency,” he said.

“These efforts have not only provided access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services but have also promoted the sustainable consumption of our nation’s energy resources,” Schindelarz said. The Head of Programmes, NESP, Duke Benjamin, reiterated NESP’s commitment towards continuing its support to SON, saying that the facility will provide SON staff with capacity-building support to conduct regular market surveillance to ensure compliance of manufacturers and importers of RE/EE products to quality and efficiency specifications.

“Once the facility is fully operational, the improvement in the quality and efficiency of both domestically manufactured and imported ACs in the Nigerian market would be undeniable,” he averred.