- One of the key project activities by ECN is providing training on monitoring, verification, and enforcement.
- The project contributes to one of the NDC’s targets, aiming for a 2.5% yearly reduction in energy intensity.
The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and various partners have commenced a training programme to equip stakeholders with the necessary skills for enforcing energy performance standards for air conditioners in Nigeria. The one-day training workshop on air conditioner monitoring, verification and enforcement (MVE) commenced yesterday in Abuja. It is an integral part of the broader project, “Scaling-Up Energy-Efficient and Climate-friendly Cooling in Nigeria.”
The ECN director-general, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, said the project’s primary objective is to expedite the transition to energy-efficient air conditioners (ACs) with climate-friendly (low-GWP refrigerant) in residential, commercial and public buildings. He said the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s climate targets in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The initiative aims to achieve the NDCs cost-effectively and sustainably. The NDC also aims for a 2.5 per cent yearly reduction in energy intensity through energy efficiency best practices across all sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
The DG said one of the key project activities is training on MVE to support the implementation of upcoming minimum energy performance standards. He noted that the training is designed explicitly for relevant enforcement and regulatory agencies of the government and vendors of such products.
He added, “The main objectives of this training workshop are to build the capacity of relevant government institutions to enforce energy performance standards of air conditioning equipment effectively. It also includes enhancing their ability to carry out surveillance activities in the air conditioner sector to monitor compliance with these standards and to harness feedback from stakeholders and solicit their buy-in regarding the new energy performance standards proposed for air conditioner standards.”
The targeted participants include the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency, the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Ozone Office, the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Energy Commission of Nigeria and the NESP Team.