Going green imperative for Nairobi’s growing population

As the global urban population continues to rise, cities will need to take steps to ensure that energy efficiency is increased and that serious steps are taken to cut pollution.

It is increasingly becoming apparent that living and working responsibly must be part of any future city discussion. Just like other cities, in the era of globalization, there is need to make Nairobi well-organized and livable. It is only by doing so that the city will have a better chance of continuing to attract businesses.

Today, Nairobi is the most populous city in eastern Africa, and is estimated to host over three million people, besides being the 14^th largest on the African continent, with a total area of about 696 km².

Its political importance is seen in the fact that it hosts the biggest United Nations center outside the developed world, with bodies like the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and UN Habitat being housed here.

On the commercial front, the African or regional operations of many global businesses are run from Nairobi, with a number of firms firmly sold to the idea that in order to make meaningful forays into the region, they have to fly their sorties from Nairobi. Among the transnationals that run their African/regional businesses from Nairobi are General Electric, Coca Cola, Nokia, IBM, Google, Microsoft and Visa, among others.

The physical growth of Nairobi also means that its capacities and facilities are stretched. With the city’s population projected to hit 5.2 million on an annual growth rate estimated at 5.5 per cent.

Just like other cities, this mass migration into cities is putting immense pressure on infrastructure as Nairobi strives to serve its growing population while still striving to maintain people’s standard of living.

South Korean Electronics titan LG is taking deliberate steps in developing innovative, eco-friendly products. By cooperating with other firms, LG has been able to combine the knowledge and experience of other companies with its own technological know-how to design green, revolutionary products and keep up with emerging trends.

“The problems posed by pollution affect us all and both the private and public sector need to cooperate in order to effectively reduce the negative impact on the environment,” says Moses Marji, General Manager Marketing LG Electronics.

Mr. Marji is calling on companies to invest in new climate control solutions which immediately increase efficiency to increase livability in Kenya’s capital and other urban areas.

He added: “Going green will be imperative for cities to manage large populations while still being habitable”

LG Electronics is among the companies that understand that energy efficiency isn’t just good for the environment but also for business.

The company’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning products (HVAC) solutions provide climate control for power plants, district cooling and commercial buildings. LG says that by embracing such solutions, the city is one step closer to improving the quality-of-life (QoL) of its residents.

With more than 40 years’ experience as a respected leader in the global HVAC industry, LG has a strong chiller portfolio with a wide range of applications.

Additionally, it has been rooting for the design of products with capabilities to help users reduce energy consumption. By decreasing overall energy use, these products save consumers money in the long run through lower energy bills, and the corresponding decrease in electricity demand leads to a drop in pollution.

The company has played a groundbreaking role in the fight for the environment. This has seen it bag several awards and certifications.

In the television category, LG was recently recognized for its energy conserving OLED TVs at the Consumer Electronics Summit held last year. Its 55, 65-and 77-inch class 4K Ultra HD OLED models all received recognition for reduced emission after extensive testing.

Secondly, by adding an extra set of doors to its Dual Door-in-Door refrigerators, LG has shown how advanced design can enhance convenience for consumers and make products more environmentally friendly. These advanced refrigerators also use LG’s revolutionary inverter Linear Compressor, allowing them to consumer 36 percent less energy and produce 25 percent less noise.

The company is also leading the way in designing competitive washing machines. For example, the LG EcoHybrid dryer in its washing machines recycles heat to save up to 53 percent more energy than typical dryers.

Adding to the outstanding record of the LG EcoHybrid, the Inverter Linear compressor-driven 6 Motion Direct Drive washing machines have achieved unparalleled environmental ratings. With an annual energy consumption of only 117kWh, LG’s 6 Motion Direct drive is the most efficient washing machine in the world.

These examples go to show LG’s leadership in developing products in response to modern concerns such as overpopulation and current renderings of modern cities which emphasize sustainability, livability, convenience and safety.

The author Moses Marji is the General Manager Marketing LG Electronics.