In most homes in Nigeria today, energy cost tends to be the Bull in a China Shop as it keeps rising, piling pressure on households’ grossly inadequate and inflation-eroded income.
Good news, however, is that some interventions are coming from solution providers at both individual and institutional levels. These providers offer explanations and advice on how households can reduce costs by boosting their energy systems.
Michael Edwin, senior sales and consulting engineer at Grundfos, a Lagos-based manufacturing firm, advises that homes should “boost your efficiency, not your energy bills.”
Edwin explained, in a statement obtained by BusinessDay at the weekend, that traditional booster pumping systems can waste a significant amount of energy, leading to increased energy bills and a larger carbon footprint.
He added that inefficient pumping systems can also lead to reduced system lifespan, increased maintenance costs, and decreased system reliability.
He cited a commercial building in Lagos on Band A that uses a traditional booster pumping system to supply water to its occupants. The system consists of multiple pumps, each with an IE1 motor, which are operated continuously to meet the building’s water demand.
The problems this area contends with, according to him, is that this traditional pumping system consumes approximately 250,000 kWh of energy per year, resulting in an annual energy bill of N52.3 million. Additionally, the system’s inefficiency leads to increased wear and tear, resulting in frequent maintenance and repairs, which cost an additional N15.4million per year.
That system’s carbon footprint is substantial, with estimated annual CO2 emissions of 150 tons.
To get out of these challenges, Edwin recommends that the area should replace the traditional pumping system with an energy-efficient booster pumping system featuring an IE5 motor.
They should also implement a variable frequency drive (VFD) to optimize pump operation and reduce energy consumption.
These solutions, if implemented, come with benefits which the engineer says will reduce their energy cost significantly and also make them enjoy safer and cleaner environment with reduced carbon footprint.
According to him, by applying those solutions, energy consumption is reduced by 40 percent, resulting in an annual energy bill savings of N20.9 million.
“Maintenance and repair costs are reduced by 30 percent, resulting in an annual cost savings of N10.7million; the system’s carbon footprint is reduced by 45 tons per year,” he assured.
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Continuing, he assured, “the use of an energy-efficient booster pumping system with an IE5 motor can have a significant impact on reducing energy consumption, maintenance costs, and carbon emissions. By upgrading to an efficient pumping system, building owners and managers can enjoy significant cost savings while contributing to a more sustainable future.”
He advised that homeowners should not let inefficiency boost their energy bills, but should rather consider upgrading to an energy-efficient booster pumping system with an IE5 motor and, by so doing, start enjoying the benefits of reduced energy consumption, lower maintenance costs, and a smaller carbon footprint.
