diaries

pic.twitter.com/YEdcg8RNSY

— Prof Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) January 19, 2023

In 2022, Nigeria launched its Energy Transition Plan, raised $3.6Billion for implementation of the Plan, supported Nigeria's priority programmes &advancing FG and Sun Africa LLC implementation framework agreement for the construction of 5,000MW of solar generation & so much more pic.twitter.com/7YL7fYukYW

— Nigeria's Energy Transition Plan (@NigeriaETPlan) December 31, 2022

Opening his week focusing on issues of Climate Change & a just energy transition, VP Osinbajo keeps critical focus. He
met yesterday with African Carbon Markets Initiative Steering Committee & also received delegation from US-based Rocky Mountain Institute. #NewNigeria possible pic.twitter.com/RmUzKiQwL5

— Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) January 24, 2023

The use of gas as a transition fuel will not only help in stemming deforestation, it
would also advance Nigeria’s broader development goals, especially because Nigeria has one of the largest gas reserves in the world
~ Vice-President Osinbajo.#NETPlan#Energy#EnergyTransition pic.twitter.com/p2plIv8CJz

— Nigeria's Energy Transition Plan (@NigeriaETPlan) January 30, 2023

Just like that. pic.twitter.com/q8KTN3FMLs

— Tade Ipadeola (@tadepen) January 6, 2023

pic.twitter.com/2pbCTWJrb7

— Prof Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) January 17, 2023

Re the judicial system: more attention should be paid to the monitoring of tribunals and their outcomes. In the past, there have been discussions around the malfeasance of some judges. Those who are found guilty must be brought to the fore. pic.twitter.com/cSTfJZS87W

— Prof Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) January 30, 2023

It was a pleasure to meet a delegation of the European Union Election Observation Mission led by Mr. Barry Andrews, the Chief Observer, who is also a member of the European Parliament. pic.twitter.com/ptp6MRQQVB

— Prof Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) January 30, 2023

When effectively operated, a cashless policy in Nigeria can help stem the surge of illicit election financing by making it possible to track funds. pic.twitter.com/sg9gCp9Btb

— Prof Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) January 30, 2023

Make sure you subscribe! 
Follow all my blogs on one twitter.  
Follow on facebook.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

#allwell

“The person you report to at work can be more important to your health than your family doctor.” - in McKinsey Insights 

As working people spend more of their waking time on the job than anywhere else, employers are in a unique position to be a good influence on health & general #wellbeing. Interesting insights from @McKinsey & @neuroleadership https://t.co/O4YfuqSqbt #wellness

— Jessica Mills (@JessMillsMHR) November 5, 2018

MORE

The art and science of #wellbeing at #work https://t.co/20Olr3FORR via @McKinsey #wellness #HR #workplace pic.twitter.com/Jn0TQvbzKF

— Amr Heikal (@Heikal_Amr) July 19, 2016

Get email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

Affordable Housing - How To Succeed

1. Stop complaining about the price of cement.  Start Digging.   
Wise civilizations have always built homes with what they have, not with what they have to obtain with difficulty.  Today's Nigeria is not a wise civilization I suppose, or we would use laterite bricks more. 
What is laterite?  The answer may be beneath your feet at the construction site.

2. Build more units than you need
Sell or rent to others, and make some money.  Be an answer to the housing crunch...Nigerians need answers.  Do you want to become an expert in affordable and sustainable building technology?  Start here. 
http://olojauk.com/article/with-n3m-15000-you-can-build-your-own-house-in-nigeria.html
http://thenationonlineng.net/building-a-functional-low-cost-house/
http://www.nairaland.com/1495068/build-red-bricks-hugely
http://www.nairaland.com/2209886/alternative-building-technique-affordable-housing
http://www.nairaland.com/1006963/affordable-low-cost-housing-option
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/04/affordable-housing-with-bricks-you-can-reduce-cost-by-40/
https://ng.boell.org/2015/03/03/affordable-green-housing-nigeria

Meet the experts, read their books and study their works, for example The Architecture of Renowned Master Demas Nwoko

3. Lower your running costs too
Fire NEPA/PHCN/xxDC , throw away the noisy generator (or give it to your enemy lol) and be your own solar power provider.  Also remember to build in time-tested natural ventilation and passive cooling systems from day 1, from the first drawing your architect makes.       

Thermal ventilation and Cross-ventilation

Get inspired: See more natural heating and cooling systems via snelhai's pinterest page

Ventilation Blocks

We can learn a lot about Passive Cooling from Cairo/Egypt, Yemen/Arabia, Iran/Iraq, and the Middle East in general.  Example: E.M. Okba (Cairo University) has notes on Building Design for Passive Cooling

Middle Eastern - style wind tower for ventilation

Traditional Badgir (wind-catcher) system

Apply wisdom.  Come back with a testimony. 

You may also like:  
http://upnaira.blogspot.com.ng/2015/12/still-trying-to-find-your-passion-what.html ,  
Using electric power at home ,  
http://lifelib.blogspot.com.ng/2011/01/agric-chic.html

Get UpNaira by email.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

Using electric power at home

My monthly use is less than 50 units (1-2 kWh per day). I am very proud of this.

Check your power bill or meter to see how many units you're using monthly. 

More affluent homes in Nigeria easily use 5-10 times as much energy per person from PHCN, 500 units per person! - and on top of that still have a generator with the life-wasting issues that come with that (waste money, time, and fuel to generate noise, stress, and fumes).

Let us try to pity ourselves fa. :D

You too can cut down on your power use and even get off the grid with solar and storage.  See the future.  If you want to change, here are some tips for saving energy: 

Use energy-efficient lighting.  You want light, not heat, right?  Change your "globe" to CFL - compact fluorescent light - or better.  Not only do you use 5 times less power and waste less as heat, but these CFL lightbulbs also last much longer before they need to be replaced.   

Approximate power (Watts) used by different globes to deliver the same light output as a 100W incandescent old-school lightbulb

Use energy-efficient appliances in general.  Many times the engineers determine this anyway, so your more modern appliances are already more energy efficient than the old designs. 

Turn it off if you're not using it.   24-hour cable television in the empty rooms?  Outdoor "security" light on at midday?  Leave a 60 Watt bulb on 24/7 to indicate when "NEPA has brought light"?  At least change it to an LED light, please. 

Rethink ventilation and cooling.  If you use an A/C, is the room/space closed or are you attempting to cool the entire city?  :)  If you live in the tropics like most of Africa, is your space so uncomfortably cold that you're shivering indoors or have to use special clothing and bedding to survive?  Businesses do this a lot, actually - very annoying - and so people have to wear thick Western clothing in this tropical heat!  Can you have windows, vents, and well-designed air-flow substitute for the air-conditioner? 

Pay attention to heating appliances - they use A LOT more power.  You may not need an electric cooker because it is usually wasteful.  You should not keep your electric bathroom/kitchen water heater on infinitely when not in use.  If necessary, ask a professional about timers, thermostats and automation to make your home run more efficiently.  

Turn it down if a low level is good enough.  If your fridge-freezer only has water and bread in it most of the time, you don't need it at freezing point, so adjust the thermostat.  If you don't keep a lot of food, you can use the freezer compartment for all your fridge needs instead of over-cooling the whole space.  Change your airconditioner's set temperature to a comfortable level. 

Don't waste water.  Especially hot water.  It took a lot of energy to get that water.  Don't leave the shower running, don't leave the pipes/faucets leaking, and don't leave the pumping machine overfilling the tank.  Call in the professional to help you sort these things out.  Ideally, the government would provide water services, but even government water should be respected and conserved.  

If you take hot showers, ... just kidding!  Take your hot shower if you need it.  Hey, it's not about not being able to live well, it's about being conscious of the fact that these are Valuable and Non-Renewable resources, and acting responsibly in accordance with our conscience and pocketbook.  Keep that hot shower brisk. 

Don't forget to share this (buttons below) and add a comment.

 

Get email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

Solar Impulse // Lovely Achievement

Solar Impulse goes around the world, completing its mission proving that zero-emissions is possible! #futureisclean https://t.co/Yt7XBnOHBx

— SOLAR IMPULSE (@solarimpulse) July 26, 2016

I believe #futureisclean b/c Solar Impulse completed the 1st solar-powered round-the-world flight. Take it further! https://t.co/iJGunokUf8

— SOLAR IMPULSE (@solarimpulse) July 26, 2016

Congratulation to the #solarimpulse Team, Great TEAM spirit ! pic.twitter.com/EaeLmucK9w

— SOLAR IMPULSE (@solarimpulse) July 26, 2016

Some of the best pictures from the adventure:

More: blog.SolarImpulse.com


Get email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

Case studies in electric power utility management

This series from Der Spiegel International is utterly fascinating. 

German Energy Agency Chief: 'We'll Need Conventional Power Plants until 2050'

SPIEGEL ONLINE - November 15, 2012 Stephan Kohler, the head of the German Energy Agency, says the country must act smarter and more realistically in its transition to renewable energy. The "feel-good" subsidies for locally produced wind and solar power have had unintended consequences, he says, and the environmental movement is often part of the problem. more... [ Forum ]

Quagmire in the Sahara: Desertec's Promise of Solar Power for Europe Fades

SPIEGEL ONLINE - November 13, 2012 As recently as three years ago, many thought that it was only a matter of time before solar thermal plants in North Africa supplied a significant portion of Europe's energy needs. But Desertec has hit a road block. Industrial backers are jumping ship, political will is tepid and a key pilot project has suddenly stalled. By Joel Stonington more... [ Forum ]

The High Price of Clean Energy: Tax Breaks and Subsidies for Industry Divide Germans

SPIEGEL ONLINE - October 26, 2012 Major industry is being spared of the costs relating to Germany's expensive shift from nuclear to green energies. The burden is being placed on small and medium-sized business as well as German consumers, who pay the second highest price for electricity in Europe. Resentment is starting to grow. By Jörg Schindler and Gerald Traufetter more...

Rising Energy Prices: Germans Grow Wary of Switch to Renewables

SPIEGEL ONLINE - October 15, 2012 Germany's switch to renewable energies is driving up electricity bills across the country, with a green technology surcharge set to rise by nearly 50 percent next year. With frustration over the high price tag, it promises to become a key issue in next year's election campaign. more...

 

Merkel's Blackout: German Energy Plan Plagued by Lack of Progress

SPIEGEL ONLINE - October 10, 2012 Germany plans to abandon nuclear power by 2022, but its government hasn't been doing enough to ensure that the project succeeds. Needed infrastructure and technology is lacking, and coordination is a mess. Meanwhile, weary consumers are paying more for electricity, and the supply is in jeopardy. By SPIEGEL Staff more... [ Forum ]

Flexible Fossils: A New Role for Coal in German Energy Revolution

SPIEGEL ONLINE - September 07, 2012 One of the biggest challenges of Germany's ambitious energy revolution is the fact that renewables such as wind and solar are subject to large fluctuations in output. Coal has long been considered their dirty alternative, but a new generation of power plants may herald a glowing future for the fossil fuel. By Stefan Schultz more... [ Forum ]

Find more here: Spiegel.de/.../Energy