SON’s MEPS Initiative set to catapult Nigeria into a N500 billion energy savings era

In a groundbreaking move, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) projects colossal savings of N500 billion through the implementation of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). The revelation unfolded during a pivotal awareness workshop in Abuja, where Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, the Director-General of SON, highlighted the nation’s potential to conserve approximately 387 megawatts of power, equivalent to half a billion dollars.

Representing the agency, Adewunmi Richards, Director of Laboratory Services, stressed the significance of MEPS compliance in navigating the global shift towards clean energy. He elucidated that MEPS serves as a regulatory framework, establishing a minimum threshold for energy efficiency in products entering the market. This, he emphasized, not only curtails energy consumption but also diminishes greenhouse gas emissions, steering Nigeria towards a more sustainable future.

The ambit of MEPS, according to Richards, encompasses a diverse array of products, ranging from household appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners to vehicles and construction materials. By enforcing stringent energy efficiency standards, governments ensure the availability of only environmentally friendly options in the marketplace.

Addressing the workshop, Dr Leslie Adogame, Executive Director at Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev) Nigeria, expressed the NGO’s eagerness to collaborate with SON in regulating lighting products containing mercury, a move aligned with the federal government’s pursuit of clean energy initiatives.