The Energy Commission of Nigeria has restated its commitment to ensuring using energy-efficient air conditioners with climate-friendly refrigerants.

The commission said climate-friendly air conditioners can be used in residential, commercial, and public buildings.

Mustapha Abdullah, the commission’s director-general, said this at a stakeholders workshop on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Abdullahi said that the workshop is to showcase project achievements and present the content of the approved air condition minimum energy performance standards.

According to Mr Abdullahi, using energy-efficient air conditioners aligns with Nigeria’s climate targets in the Nationally Determined Contribution.

Mr Abdullahi said the commission, in partnership with the UN Environment Programme, was implementing a project titled ‘Scaling up Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria’s National Determined Contribution Revision’.

“This is supported financially by the Clean Cooling Collaborative. The ECN has been implementing the project since 2022. We are committed to its objectives of accelerating the use of energy-efficient air conditioners with climate-friendly refrigerants aligning with Nigeria’s climate targets in the NDC,” Mr Abdullahi said.

He said that the developments would reduce energy demand and increase energy access and that there is a need to communicate the project’s success to the Nigerian public and showcase its achievements to stakeholders.

Jose Carbajosa, UNEP representative, said the project’s overall goal is to accelerate using energy-efficient air conditioners with climate-friendly refrigerants.

Mr Carbajosa said that improving the energy efficiency of air conditioners and promoting the use of low global warming potential refrigerants will have significant environmental and climate change benefits.

(NAN)