DO GLOBAL WARMING FUEL FLOODING AND HURRICANE?

Year 2017 marks another terrible year of hurricanes- with its attendant destruction, displacement and woes. First it was a historic Hurricane Harvey that lashed out on the good people of Texas, driving unrelenting rains and floods down on thousands of people of Louisiana and driving them out of their homes and the comfort of clear sunny days. The news and pictures I saw left me sad as many helpless souls became lost to the disaster.  I lighted a votive candle for Yeye to beg for peace to the storm.

As if the destruction of Texas was just a prelude, a far harsher Hurricane Irma erupted from the heart of Atlantic and reared its ugly head towards Cuba to cause destruction and displacement. This sinister storm also lashed out on Mexico before facing Florida to cause untold mayhem and destruction. Over 6 million inhabitants of Florida and parts of Miami were evacuated to safety while the nasty hurricane had a field day destroying properties and things found along its rabid way. Adjoining islands and colonies of US sited near the Atlantic Ocean also had the destructive Hurricane Irma pay them an unsolicited visit.

The total value of the destruction both hurricanes left in their wake would almost crash a calculator, in fiscal, physical and psychological terms. Since natural disasters are acts of God, the bulk of cost of repairing the damage will fall squarely on tax payers. But as a way to lessen the burden of paying for the destruction hurricanes cause, my question is did we as humans contribute to the occurrence and virulence of the hurricanes by the effects of global warming? Can we as humans and the sufferer of natural disaster like hurricanes and flooding do something to reduce their occurrence and minimize their virulence? Is Climate Change the reason for these close calling hurricanes from the oceans?

Answering these questions faithfully and acting positively in response to its answers can offer succor to us as inhabitants of planet Earth against all these angry sea storms or unrelenting rainfall that overflows the dam. If we don't rise up to action today, tomorrow the storms might be deadlier.

 Today I saw on CNN another one named Hurricane Maria is gathering its speed and moving inland from the Atlantic Ocean. May God speak peace to these unrelenting storms and bring back sunny days to the cerulean sky.

Stay green and positive.

WSO 

UPDATES ON SOLARTEL BY ECOWATT NIGERIA - A CASE STUDY OF SUCCESSFUL INNOVATION ON PRODUCTIVE USE OF ENERGY.

Eyin temi. E ku ojo meta. Please forgive my reticence of recent time. I had gone on vacation into the deep to visit Yeye. Lol. Just pranking you guys.

Today I will like to give you green folks updates on the innovation by our sister company, Ecowatt Nigeria called SOLARTEL. Solartel was designed by Olakunle and his partner to alleviate energy poverty for quantum energy users, especially those in communication nexus, as the unit is primarily a solar powered phone charging kiosk. Since Solartel 1 was launched early in the year, Ecowatt has produced another two units given free of charge to entrepreneurs in Lagos. And I am happy to tell you that the units, one in Abule-Egba and the other at Mafoluku in Oshodi,  have been making eco-currencies for their operators who now daily rely on energy from the sun to power their businesses and make money. Pure genius by Ecowatt!

The idea behind Solartel according to its exponents is to promote productive use of energy particularly using renewable energy. Having understudied the problems of small scale businesses in Nigeria, chief of which is instability and high price in energy supply, they came up with the idea to power small scale businesses with solar PV system and Solartel, as a prototype of one of their innovations, has been a success story all the way. Today, Solartel 1,2 and 3 together generates over N50, 000 monthly in eco currencies for their operators and together saves over 6,000 tonnes of carbon. Awesome isn’t it?

In recognition of this cutting edge technology, Solartel just won a small grant award from the US Government to be used in promoting the innovation in Lagos and we are gearing up for this august event happening before the end of August,2017. The grant came on the heel of a successful presentation of Solartel business Idea by Olakunle in Ethiopia where Energy Experts from the Mandela Washington Fellowship Program had gathered to brainstorm on the future of renewable energy. Ecowatt Nigeria, our sister in the struggle, is braced to lead Africa into energy prosperity with her range of innovations for small scale businesses and we are all excited for the success stories.

Do you know of a small scale business in your area that will like to benefit from the energy upgrade program being offered by Ecowatt Nigeria Ltd. Give me a private chat and we might visit your location to conduct walk through audit for your business and fix you up with a Solar PV system free of charge.

Remember to always save energy whenever you can. Stay green.

WSO 

PS: Note that a small business that qualifies as a quantum energy user is such that needs nothing less than 100 watts of electricity to power its business daily.

LAGOS ISLAND FLOODING- A WAKE UP CALL

Last weekend was a trending time on the internet in Nigeria regarding the flood that ravaged Lagos Island starting from Friday 7, July 2017 with a downpour that began around 11pm on Friday night which lasted until the morning of Saturday. The next thing Lagos Islanders, particularly residents of high brow Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki I and II, Ajah and environs, experienced was the unwelcome invasion of waters that besieged all corners of their street and homes and turned the whole peninsula into one large swimming pool.

The flood caught most residents of Lagos Island unawares as, sincerely speaking, it was a historic flood that Lagosians had never witnessed before. I mean I saw videos of people swimming in the flood along Lekki- Epe Expressway and of one white rower paddling his canoe across the road opposite Silverbird Galleria in VI . Mi foh. The question on most people’s lips was that: “What would have happened had it rained for seven days nonstop?” Noah’s Apocalypse for Lagos Island and its billion dollar investments abi. Abeg o.

The truth is the flood resulted from a lot of cumulative wahalas unresolved over time or by passed by the reason of politics. First, and from an environmental perspective, is that the drainage system in Lagos Island (inadequate and inefficient to start) became overwhelmed by the deluge that assailed it, helped largely by blockage caused by refuse dumps poured into running gutters during rain by illiterate slum dwellers in Lagos Island. That’s the polished “politically correct” reason for the flooding. OK.

The real reason, not to hide under lingos and political lies, is that land reclamation for super real estate projects that had taken over Lagos Island pushed the lagoon to overflow its constricted natural cup and it will continue until Lagos State innovate ways to channel the drainage system all over Lagos efficiently and find a way to compensate the sea goddess (Yemoja) for invading her space to make habitations for rich people. Lol.

Seriously speaking eyin temi, the flood that happened over the weekend in Lagos Island was not a joke and the prayer is that it should not happen again. The economic loss and psychological trauma that followed it was too much.  But will prayer appease Nature and Mother-Fish (don't mind me) when she decides to react to imbalance in her system. That’s a question for the amiable Governor of Lagos State to answer when June beckons in 2018. It’s time for all of us that live in and love Lagos State to be proactive and take stand to protect the city we love so much.  

Be green.

WSO

IS CLIMATE CHANGE A HOAX?

Weeks back, green world enthusiasts and climate change campaigners all over the globe were disheartened when President Trump of US announced the inglorious exit of United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. He had hinted at exiting US from the agreement during his presidential campaign and finally on June 3^rd, 2017, President Trump made it formal in an announcement made in Rose Garden, attributing the reason for his decision, among others, to the fact that the notion of climate change is a hoax.

 But sincerely, let us ask ourselves, Is Climate Change really a hoax? Agreed, President Trump for long has been a climate change denier, believing that global warming was a concept created by China to affect the competitiveness of American industries. In his nationalist rhetoric, President Trump believes and has continually reiterated that climate change is a myth that would throttle American industries without commensurate gains as advertised by its promoters. In one long swipe, President Trump abdicated the leadership role expected of US in implementing terms of the Paris Climate Accord by withdrawing his country from comity of Earth loving nations.

Can his reasoning be faulted? The President, relying on unsubstantiated scientific claims and “common sense”, believed that US was being milked by other nations to fight a mythical global warming whose effect cannot be predicted or measured in real terms. President Trump believes that efforts made to correct the effects of CLIMATE CHANGE cannot change the course of world’s destiny and as such it is wanton wastage to invest US tax payer’s money on it. He believes so vehemently that planet Earth is smart enough to take care of herself.

Again let us ask: Is Mr. President making any sense? Can he be correct in his assertion that Climate Change is a fraud? Will Paris Climate Accord at the end be able to sustain our planet against effects of global warming even without the participation of US?

Answers to these salient questions lies in the proximate tomorrow of our children and theirs and history will be there to vindicate or vilify President Trump for his controversial decision made on the destiny of planet Earth. 

Personally, I hope he is wrong.

Enjoy your day.

WSO 

BEWARE OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

Last week I read in the news about the untimely death of 3 people in Port Harcourt due to carbon monoxide poisoning and I was sorely grieved for the loss that resulted from their ignorance of placing a running generator in the kitchen and then going to sleep. It turned out to be their sleep of death. It’s a fairly common occurrence in Nigeria – a country with more than 90 million gasoline generators and the time is NOW to sensitive Nigerians about the danger of inhaling fumes of a gasoline generator.

Gasoline generator expels its waste in the form of carbon monoxide (CO) - a colourless, tasteless, odourless gas that is termed “Silent Killer” because its effect is not easily detectable while it is dangerous. If this terrible gas is not well ventilated and allowed to build up in a closed space, it can cause headache, fatigue, brain damage and death in a matter of minutes for those unfortunate to inhale it. As a matter of fact, carbon monoxide poisoning is among the leading causes of accidental deaths in Nigeria; mostly resulting from lack of awareness and power infrastructure deficit that necessitates mass use of gasoline/diesel generators.

How is this silent killer avoided? Simply by placing our running generators (gasoline/diesel) in an open space where the effluent gases are allowed to escape into the atmosphere. NO ONE SHOULD PLACE RUNNING GENERATORS INSIDE THE HOUSE! Not in the corridor, the kitchen, garage, bathroom or even on balcony that is enclosed. Generators are made to be placed outside in the open, not INSIDE the house. Even if it raining outside, NEVER place generator inside to avoid it from being rain soaked. Switch it off until the rain stops, please. Your life is more important than TV program or whatever temporary comfort that should warrant putting a running generator inside the house.

Kindly spread this message in the spirit of Negawatt Revolution and save a life from the fatal clutch of Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning. Believe me when I tell you that Renewable Energy is the natural solution to end the scourge of carbon monoxide poisoning. With time and through RE innovations being cooked in our labs at Zeus Energy Limited, we will never be grieved by untimely death caused by the Silent Killer again. God accenting to our aspirations!

See you soon.

WSO   

ISO50001 CERTIFICATION IN NIGERIAN INDUSTRIES

I am positively excited and proud to announce to you the conclusion of Energy Management Systems in Industries in Nigeria (EnMSIN), the first in Sub Sahara Africa, as facilitated by GFA Consulting Group (Germany) under the sponsorship of GIZ and Nigerian Energy Support Program (NESP). In 2015 when it kicked off, two Nigerian manufacturers from Steel and Chemical industries were selected as pilot industries to demonstrate the sustainability and cost saving economics obtainable from enforcing energy efficiency standards in Nigerian industries in line with ISO50001.

Our company, Zeus Energy Limited, participated as a local resource company in the certification process that required us to supply energy meters by efergy used in the energy audit of the two industries,  plus rendering sundry services. As a premier energy management company in Nigeria with corporate experience in demand side management, GFA contracted our company to complement their energy specialists who conducted the critical checks and audits on the selected industries.

For the august project, our company successfully supplied energy data such as readings from smart energy meters and thermal images taken by our lead consultant and other important information that aggregated to form the report that eventually was used by GFA, partnering with AENOR, Spanish certification body, to award the ISO50001 certificate to the two successful Nigerians industries. By this award, Nigeria just entered into comity of industrialized nations with energy efficiency standard in industries.

I must also add that Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian agency charged with enforcing standards in goods meant for Nigerian consumption, also participated in this historic venture and would henceforth uphold energy efficiency standards for Nigerian industries. The essence of institutionalizing ISO 50001 in Nigerian industries leads to improvement in energy performance, promotes competitiveness, generates job and leads to grid improvement. From environmental perspective, It will result in reduced non-productive energy consumption which leads to negawatt and reduced green house gases.

Here is to congratulate Aarti Steels located in Ota and Grand Cereals Limited as awardees of ISO50001 in Nigeria. More industries are already enrolled in the extension of the project being executed by GFA and NESP and we at ZEL are very happy and proud to associate with the success story.

Share with your friends. ISO50001 is in Naija industries! Cheers!!

WSO    

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INVERTER SYSTEM AND SOLAR PV SYSTEM

Some weeks back, we installed an inverter system for a client, Broadview Engineering Limited based in Victoria Island and its functionality to the client made me decide to contrast it with a Solar PV system. First, an inverter system is a backup device used in storing energy for use when power supply gets cut off from the source. It comprises a set of batteries and inverter, plugged to an external source of electricity (NEPA or BIG Gen in Nigerian parlance) to charge it. It is a common sight in corporate organizations like banks, oil companies, data centers and even homes where constant electricity is required. In fact, Broadview Engineering Limited installed their inverter system to back up their office data center where computers and servers are located and our engineers and techs fixed them with a lasting inverter system, externally powered to charge of course.

Contrast it with Solar PV system. All that remains for an inverter system to make a Solar PV system is to add PV boards and charge controller and you have the sun ever constant to charge your batteries. What simple economics of wealth retention! I mean if you can afford to spend a million plus to fix an inverter system which gulps a LOT of ENERGY to charge, it should be “beans’ to add a few hundred thou to get yourself off addiction to fuel and diesel. You’d save a lot of dollars and carbon credits. It is true Solar PV is for BIG BOY and GIRLS and you are one if you can contemplate having inverter system. Just upgrade your finance and have the sun charge your battery for free. Believe me, Zeus will repay you with good fortune. Lol

Green friends, we keep planting trees in the cloud by fixing energy issues faced by companies in Lagos and all over Nigeria. If you can manage your energy problems with eco-sense, you’d be smiling all the time. Here is wishing you a happy Easter celebration from Zeus Energy Limited and also wishing Skye a happy wedding preparations. Hook up at Lekki Leisure Garden on Saturday for barbecue and cognac. It’s Skye’s Bash Eve Party.

Cheers!

WSO  

Having Eco Sense

Today I want to reflect on my experience as an eco entrepreneur, particularly regarding why practical demonstration of eco-initiatives is important. You see, in the few times I stayed at our Solartel Phone Charging Kiosk in Lagos, quite a number of people have to come to ask me questions about the viability of solar PV system. They ask me questions like "does solar work?" "Can it carry my TV, DVD player, Fan, AC...?" "What if there is no sun, how will it work?" and so many others. I enjoyed answering their questions.

The truth is quite a lot of people do not know how Solar PV system works. Perhaps because the commonest solar project they know of, which is Solar Powered Streetlights, more often than not fail after sometime;Nigerians have come to doubt the reliability of Solar PV systems. Yet the truth is Solar PV requires a bit of science in its design for it to work coupled with energy management in its application. We have demonstrated this to a number of elite clients that could afford it and we are presently demonstrating to grassroots people with Solartel where over 100 phones have been charged and eco currencies are made everyday but Sunday.

Believe me when I tell you that the sun can power Africa and reduce our energy poverty to nothing. With eco sense we can. It begins with small innovations to massive ones. At Zeus Energy Limited, we are currently working on a solar powered lighting/ charging model for grassroots people called "ITONA". I will update you on its designs as it evolves. Look out for Solartel and Solartech next time you visit Computer Village and charge your phone on the go. 

Like we say in Lagos, kosi time. 

See you soon.

WSO 

MAKING ECO CURRENCY- ESSENCE OF SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability in business is the real bane of small businesses in Nigeria and I’m sure all over Africa where most small business owner have to spend the bulk of their meagre profit on fuel for their generators. With electricity supply from national grid uncertain and epileptic to power businesses, the result is that most small businesses here die prematurely and the owner will be left to battle poverty and its dark children.

To provide succor and alleviate energy poverty that bite keenly into the skin of SSE owners in Nigeria, our sister company Ecowatt Nigeria Limited is in the lab innovating different ranges of energy solutions for Small Scale Enterprises using Solar Energy. We just launched ‘Solartel’- the first Solar Powered Charging Kiosk to provide phone charging services to people in need of it and it’s been a fireworks of success.

Solartel is a holistic Solar PV system designed with high grade components to convert sunlight to electrical energy for commercial use. Since its launch in Lagos fortnight ago, its operator have earned over N5000 eco-currency from harvested sun. Isn’t that splendid? You needed to see the joy on Baba Ibeji’s face (the operator) to make money from sunlight.  He was unemployed and unhappy before but soon he will become Bill Gates and it’d be like the way Barcelona made a comeback against PSG (lol).

Seriously, the sun has started making millionaires of former unemployed young men and women of Nigeria and our vision is to extend the goodies to over 1000 SSE’s. Olakunle and Andre Moeller (our German Genius) are innovating another version of the Sun-Machine styled ‘Solartech’ for phone technicians and repairers. You gonna love it!

The sun is shining bright. Let’s make eco currencies together.

Cheers.

WSO

PS: Wasn’t it unbelievable what Barca did to remain in UEFA Champions league? Neymar Jnr. Is a wizard….#ForcaBarca   

  

DEMOCRATIZATION OF ENERGY

I heard these words recently and it changed my perspective to the Green World Agenda that I hold in high esteem.  “Democratization of energy” – seems a mouthful right? Well, it is really a simple idea capable of revolutionizing our dark continent still living in energy poverty into energy abundance. It is like the process of democracy – a government made by everyone for everyone but this time brought to energy distribution.  It is a lofty ambition that myself and my brothers as stakeholders in Zeus Energy Limited are committed to achieving for our dear fatherland and African continent.

To us, democratization of energy involves bringing energy to people in need of it at a relatively affordable rate, and by energy I mean renewable energy. It is enjoying same rights that come with democracy like right to life and right to vote and be voted for. To further this vision of ours, our lead engineer consultant in the person of Olakunle and his team are coming up with innovative energy solutions for small business owners who spend a premium on gasoline generator in business with small profits. We intend to alleviate their energy wahala and poverty using these solar powered business units. We already launched Solar Tel made by Ecowatt Nigeria used for charging phones and it is in pilot stage at Computer Village in Lagos.

Our dream is to replicate these holistic solar systems for as many as 1000000 SME owners, in the way phasing out “I better pass my neighbor” generator and saving a forest reserve of trees. If you are an investor and would like to buy into our innovation, give us a buzz. We are looking for green partners in progress. Let’s make money bags together using the cleanest energy on the green planet.

Democracy for energy distribution will electrify Africa. Let all nations on the black continent take cue and advance into light.

See you soon green people.

WSO  

Solar Wealth

There is immeasurable amount of wealth stored up in the sky - in the sun. If economists were to value the worth of energy we draw yearly from the sun, you'd be amazed. Without any iota of doubt, I can beat my chest it would be more than all the wealth of the world billionaires combined.  The Creator must be infinitely wealthy to have made a ball of fire with so much to offer in terms of energy and light. But as humans, do we really value our solar wealth?

Believe me green friend, it is ironical to find so much energy poverty around in the abundance of solar energy the earth is naturally blessed with. In Africa where energy poverty bite the keenest, it is actually laughable and painful to see it is the same continent where you find sun to shine the most. Then what makes energy poverty to be this persistent and virulent?

I think is because we do not value our solar wealth enough as a people. All over the world, darkness is being chased out with solar energy technology and it is the simplest system to set up. Although solar energy system is somewhat expensive to procure and set up, its returns overlap the initial set up cost and the value of its energy cannot compare to energy from gasoline generators. Solar energy is clean, renewable (without money) and infinite. It is time we tapped into it and electrify Africa.

In this connection, my genius brother Olakunle who is a Power Engineer just designed a solar powered business kiosk for communication gadgets retailers and phone chargers. His vision is to alleviate energy poverty for SME's owners and this innovation of his called "SolarTel" would make you proud as it made me. I will share with you as soon as it is launched.

I will also be using this medium to congratulate my brother from another father, President Barack Obama on an eventful and historic handing over today. May Almighty God continue to uphold him and grant him a restful post presidency. 

Here is also to wish Mr. Donald J. Trump a happy inauguration and a successful tenure as the 45th POTUS.

See you soon. 

WSO