The Energy Commission organised a one-day sensitisation workshop for Departmental/Unit Heads and Staff of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council at the Conference Hall in Koforidua on Monday April 15th, 2024.
The Commission had so far sensitized officers of the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Prisons Service and the Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinating Council, all in the Greater Accra region.
The purpose of the sensitisation was on energy efficiency and conservation for the general public and selected identifiable groups to enable them reduce their energy consumption and bills.
The Chief Director of the East Regional Co-ordinating Council, who delivered the welcome address on behalf of the Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Seth Kwame Acheampong stated that, the Commission’s initiative to educate Ghanaians on energy efficiency has a great potential to contribute to the region’s development and resilience in a rapidly changing global environment.
Mr. John Donkor added that, by investing in energy efficient technologies and adapting to energy saving behaviours, the region can create job opportunities and attract investment, as well as increase its competitiveness in the global market.
Mr. Kennedy, a Deputy Director at the Energy Commission, Accra, explained that energy efficiency is simply the process of using less energy to get the same amount of energy from the same source. Whereas energy conservation is the process of reducing energy consumption by switching off lights when they are not needed. He further explained that less energy used means less carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which in turn means less global warming.
He went on to say that government policies to promote energy efficiency, such as Energy Efficient Building Codes, Energy-Saving Tax Incentives, Energy-Saving Energy Audits and Retrofitting of homes and businesses, must include Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights, as they are more energy-efficient and last longer than Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs).
A Senior Manager at the Energy Commission, Accra, Ing. John Adjei, stated that Ghana is implementing a mandatory appliance standards and labelling regime, which requires importers and retailers to sell only refrigerators and appliances that meet the minimum energy and performance requirements approved by the Ghana Standard Authority. He added that importers and retailers must display the energy efficiency rating on refrigerators appliances before they are made available for retail sale, in accordance with the Energy Standards and Labelling 2009 (LI 1958).
Ing. Adjei, stated that in order to efficiently operate air conditioners (ACs), it is necessary to ensure that there are no openings under the doors, that the room is well-curated to avoid heat entry, and that the louver blades/sliding windows are properly closed to prevent outside air from entering. He added that consumers should be aware that the more stars on products/appliances such as air conditioners/refrigerators (ACs), the more energy efficient they are.
The Commission informed participants to verify the authenticity of electrical products and providers on “gh certified appliance app” on Google Play Store or AppStore.
According to Mr. Samuel Frimpong, Public Affairs Officer at the Energy Commission in Accra, pressing irons have high wattages (850–2500), thus, ironing should be done in bulk because the amount of energy used increases with the amount of time spent ironing