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The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the rollout of new Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) and energy labelling for air conditioners (ACs) so cooling is more energy efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly.
Air conditioners are among the highest energy-consuming appliances, accounting for over 40 percent of household electricity usage and much of that is wasted due to outdated technology, which is common, locally. The newly approved standard, aligned with international best practices, will help ensure that Nigeria is home to modern appliances which use electricity more optimally than outdated models with power savings that can be redirected to other sectors of the economy.
The standard also helps ensure that more climate-friendly refrigerant gasses are used in the equipment, consistent with the government’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Climate Agreement.
The new standard was developed under the project “Scaling Up Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria’s NDC Revision” implemented by the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) with technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) United for Efficiency (U4E) team and funding from the Clean Cooling Collaborative (CCC), and in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
The MEPS will be implemented in phases, enhancing energy efficiency and transitioning refrigerant gasses used in the equipment. Three efficiency steps will come into effect over time using the Nigeria Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (NSEER), an international test method tailored for local weather conditions. From a current performance baseline, energy efficiency must improve 6% by 2026, 36% by 2029, and 48% by 2031.
“Nigeria’s new energy efficiency standard for air conditioners, set to save 11.5 TWh of energy annually by 2040, are a game-changer for Africa. By reducing energy consumption and emissions by 39 million tonnes of CO₂ over the next 15 years, Nigeria is not only lowering costs for consumers but also leading the way toward a more sustainable and greener economy for the continent,” said Dr. Rose Mwebaza, Africa Director and Regional Representative, UNEP.
The transition to climate-friendly refrigerants will also be guided by an upper limit on global warming potential, set to take effect in 2029.
Commenting on this development, the Director-General of the ECN, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, described the newly approved MEPS as a game changer.
“For ECN, we believe that many Nigerians are paying excessive amounts for operating cooling systems. By setting an efficient standard for air conditioning, we are taking steps make use of this vital equipment more affordable and accessible while caring for the environment,” he said.
Following approval of the MEPS, the ECN Director-General emphasised that enforcement would be key. This includes ensuring that labels are provided to manufacturers and importers of air conditioning systems, a process that is currently under discussion by the government He also highlighted the importance of raising awareness among Nigerians about the benefits of energy-efficient products, helping consumers make informed decisions about their energy use.
“The people who consume large amount of electricity, need to understand the benefits of purchasing energy-efficient and climate friendly air conditioning systems. To enhance awareness campaigns, the ECN plans to expand its outreach to sub-national regions, educating consumers about the new MEPS and the impact of their current energy usage on electricity costs. We will also engage vendors, assemblers, and marketers to present solutions,” said Dr. Abdullahi.
“In fact, we are already taking action. We recently held a meeting with Daikin which is one of the largest air conditioner manufacturers globally. Like many companies operating in Nigeria, Daikin recognises the importance of adopting and enforcing the new MEPS and labelling. Given the size of Nigeria’s market, aligning with rigorous international requirements ensures consistency and competitiveness.
“We are confident based on our in-depth market review and consultations with industry that by 2026, all air conditioners entering the country will meet the standard set by the ECN and SON in collaboration with UNEP U4E. This is a significant step in addressing one of the major challenges in the power sector – reducing energy waste in an affordable manner for consumers and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions,” added Abdullahi.
Abdullahi further emphasised that the government remains committed to driving the energy efficiency agenda and promoting environmentally sustainability in the cooling sector. He also revealed that plans to develop a standard and labelling for refrigeration appliances, currently the second-largest consumers of household energy in Nigeria, are already underway.
“UNEP U4E is proud of this accomplishment following years of hard work supporting the Federal Government of Nigeria in its pursuit of sustainable cooling and environmental solutions. We look forward to building on this solid foundation to address additional opportunities around new products and proper training on handling of equipment at the end of its useful life. Alongside regulatory efforts, we are supporting a new consumer finance programme with UNDP to help make the most efficient products more affordable and accessible through the newly launched AGORA project,” noted Brian Holuj, Programme Manager of UNEP U4E.
“As Africa’s largest cooling market and one of the fastest-growing cooling markets in the world, Nigeria’s new standard are a big deal and will ensure that every new air conditioner sold is an efficient one and that the country is no longer a dumping ground for energy-wasting models,” said Noah Horowitz, Senior Director of the Clean Cooling Collaborative which provided funding support for this work.
“By significantly reducing cooling-related energy consumption, this standard will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also lower household utility bills across the country, and we hope this bold action serves as a blueprint for other nations in the region to follow,” added Horowitz.
