Editorials

EDITORIAL: Biogas scheme welcome

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Energy principal secretary Joseph Njoroge. FILE PHOTO | NMG

The invitation this week for contractors to build biogas plants in public schools is good news, especially for the environmental conservation champions.

The government has many policies that seek to encourage use of clean, renewable energy sources to mitigate climate change by reducing Kenya’s carbon footprint.

The latest plan targeting public schools should lead to a sustained campaign to ensure biogas is widely used in households and industries.

Installing biogas plants in schools will not only cut energy costs for the learning institutions but also reduce deforestation resulting from reliance on wood fuel, which also pollutes the environment and poses health risks.

READ: Drive for biogas plants in schools to cut energy costs

This initiative should, however, not only be restricted to public schools but could be implemented by other academic institutions – public or private – including universities.

Notably, learning institutions have readily available organic wastes that are generated by the school community, especially in the kitchen and the toilets that could be tapped for biogas and manure.

We see large-scale use of biogas use as a viable solution to organic waste management and reduction in methane, a greenhouse gas.

It could also reduce on wanton destruction of forests for firewood as well as supply of eco-friendly organic manure for food production.