Ghana saves over GH¢450,000 yearly due to energy efficiency initiatives on public facilities since 2010
The installation of the Automatic Capacitor Banks implemented by the Energy Commission is said to have reduced the cost of electricity at some selected public facilities.
These facilities are the Ministry of Defence, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the Office of the President, Food and Drugs Board, Accra Sports Stadium and the Parliament House.
According to Energy Minister, Dr Joe Oteng Adjei, this has resulted in the reduction of power consumed from 11,743kVA to 9,889kVA.
“Translated in monetary terms, a total savings of about GH¢39,145 a month or GH¢469,740 per annum,” Dr Oteng Adjei told the press in Accra October 6, 2011.
The Minister indicated that the successful implementation of the Efficient Lighting Retrofit Initiative has also resulted in electricity demand savings of over 124 megawatts and energy cost savings of over $33 million per annum.
The use of incandescent lamps, Dr Oteng Adjei says has reduced from 58% in 2007 to less than 3% in 2011.
He revealed that this initiative made him (Dr Oteng Adjei) a recipient of an international award for Energy Efficiency in Washington DC in May 2010.
He said the Ministry of Energy will continue to support the Energy Commission to extend this programme to other public buildings while encouraging the private sector to undertake similar energy saving measures.
He indicated that the Appliance Energy Efficiency (AEE) project being implemented by the Energy Commission will be formally launched in October 2011 after it was approved in June 2011.
The AEE involves the introduction of appliance performance standards and labels that will guide consumers to make a choice with regard to energy efficiency of appliances before they purchased them; and the transformation of the refrigerating appliance market through a phase-out of used refrigerators because of the impact of ozone-depleting CFC gases used in such appliances.
According to the Minister, it is expected that the project will reduce energy consumption of refrigerators from a national average of 1,200 kWh per annum, to 600 kWh per annum.
Dr Oteng Adjei however, called on the media to help intensify public education and awareness creation to ensure the successful implementation of these programmes.
By Ekow Quandzie