FG Rebates Owners Occupier to promote Energy Efficiency in Buildings
The Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing , Mohammed Bukar has disclosed that government would give rebate to Owners Occupier that have their building plan drawings Energy Efficient in Nigeria. He made this disclosure at the meeting of Inter-Ministerial Team on Renewable Energy Efficiency buildings in Abuja recently.
The Permanent Secretary, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Team , said that the rebate would be given to ensure that all buildings in Nigeria are Energy Efficiency Compliant . He further directed that all building projects in the Ministry must be in accordance to the specification under the Building Energy Efficiency Code (BEEC).
Mr Bukar added that with the launch of BEEC in June 2017 by the immediate past Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola, it was agreed that the BEEC would run for a two year Voluntary Stage, with the aim that awareness creation would be on going, during which the acceptability of the code and it’s implementation will be assessed.
The Permanent Secretary urged the stakeholders to brain storm and come up with measures that will promote an alternative means of Energy that would result in job creation, business opportunities and economic growth.
He commended the effort of stakeholders and the technical partner, the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP)/German Agency for International Cooperation(GIZ) in the journey of ensuring implementation of BEEC in Nigeria, noting that it would be of enormous benefit to Nigerians.
According to him, “this puts the programme of energy efficiency in buildings at an advantage in making a paradigm shifting in our mode of design and construction method in building and construction industries. “As we fully embrace the implementation of BEEC in our new building projects design and construction, it will no doubt result in 40% reduction in energy consumed by these buildings if properly implemented.”
The Permanent Secretary encouraged financial mehanism in making loans available with low interest rate and tax relief for those Energy Efficient related products which are required for Energy Efficient buildings, like water heaters, Solar PV, air-conditioners and others which would in no small measure aid the penetration of Energy efficiency advocacy and implementation.
The Director of Engineering Services in the Ministry, Engr.Julius Olurinola, urged the private sector in collaboration with the professional bodies, to take a shot at sponsoring a bill to add BEEC to the National Building Code, now that the programme is at the voluntary stage.
The GIZ support partners expressed satisfaction at the level of awareness the programme has reached judging by the enthusiasm shown by the stakeholders in the implementation of the programme.
The Ministry in collaboration with the technical partners have come up with the adoption of BEEC in the three pilot states out of the 36 states of the federation, namely Lagos, Kaduna and Plateau states to kick start the process of making buildings in the country Energy Efficient.
Grace Osuji
SIO
For : Director Information
