IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON ENERGY CONSUMPTION ON COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN KENYA

After the first case was announced in March 13th, we started seeing decrease in daytime consumption and before the 1st week was out, there was a 7PM to 5AM curfew imposed from March 20th with a 21-day lock-down. It was during the next 21-day lock-down that we see steady increase in consumption due to most people going back to work gradually but if you look closely, the impact curfew rules has had on night time consumption is evident in its reduction too. This has affected buildings which offer night-time classes, catering services, etc.

Therefore, overall energy consumption has reduced by approximately 30% compared to preCOVID-19 consumption. This is approximately 11 tons of CO2 reduced equivalent to planting over 100 trees for 10 years!

If the “new normal” proves to keep people healthy and equally or more productive in their work places, this will be evidence of how the coronavirus actually had a major role to play in the fight against climate change through reduced carbon footprint and energy consumption per square footage in commercial buildings.