Today, Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) joins the World to celebrate “World Consumer Rights Day” under the theme “Clean energy transitions”.
Clean Energy refers to energy that comes from renewable and zero emission sources that do not pollute the atmosphere, for example, Electricity, Biogas, Solar, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Natural Gas, Alcohol Fuels and Biomass Stoves.
The Theme this year is aimed at encouraging Consumers to exercise their Rights as they shift from Fossil-Based sources of energy such as Coal and Kerosene, to the above renewable energy sources.
Consumers have the Right of Choice, The Right to be Heard, The Right to Safety, The Right to Redress and The Right Information. However, as Consumers exercise these Rights, they must be equally mindful of the impact these Rights can have on the Ecology.
In Uganda today, Fossil-Based sources of Energy are still majorly used for lighting and cooking, despite the high amount of air pollution which they generate. This pollution is harmful to both Public Health and the Environment.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Household Air Pollution was responsible for an estimated 3.2 million deaths per year in 2020, including over 237 000 deaths of children under the age of 5, globally. Exposure to Air Pollution also leads to non-communicable diseases like stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.
In line with the Bureau’s Mandate of protecting the Health and Safety of the Public and Environment against harmful and substandard products, as well as promoting Fair Trade, UNBS has developed the following Uganda Standards to guide Producers and Consumers on transition to Clean Energy;
- US 854-1:2011 Thermal solar systems & components – Solar collectors – Part 1: General requirements
- US 855-1:2011 Thermal solar systems & components – Factory made solar systems -Part 1: General requirements
- US 857-1: 2011 Custom built solar systems – Part 1: General requirements
- US 853:2009 Code of practice for solar water heating systems – Design, installation, testing, repair and maintenance
- US 856:2011 Standard method for on-site inspection and verification of operation of solar hot water systems
- US 857-3: 2011 Custom built solar systems – Part 3: Performance characterization of stores for solar heating systems
- US IEC 60904-9:2007 Photovoltaic devices – Part 9: Solar simulator performance requirements
- US 1642: 2016 Domestic biogas stoves – Specification
- US 761:2019 Household biomass stoves Requirements
- US 971:2019 Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG) – Specification
The above standards are available on the UNBS Website https://webstore.unbs.go.ug.
About UNBS
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a Government Agency responsible for the Developing, Promotion and Enforcement of National Standards in order to protect the Health and Safety of the Public and that of the Environment against Harmful and Sub-Standard Products, as well as promoting Fair Trade and Competition.
For more Information, Please Contact Us on:
Uganda National Bureau of Standards,
Plot 2 – 12, Bypass Link, Bweyogerere Industrial and Business Park,
P.O Box 6329 Kampala, Uganda.
Telephone: 256 417 333250
Toll Free Line: 0800133133
E-mail: info@unbs.go.ug / ed@unbs.go.ug
Website: www.unbs.go.ug
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