Kumasi, Oct. 29, GNA - The Energy Foundation has encouraged industrialists, manufacturing companies and small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to adopt energy efficient technologies, equipment and conservation practices.

Mr Steven Duodu, Programmes Manager of the Energy Foundation, said this was necessary for the sustenance of their businesses. Energy, he said, was about the second most used product in business and there was the need to ensure its judicious application. He was speaking at a day's sensitization workshop on energy efficiency in Kumasi for some selected SMEs from the Ashanti Region. It was organized by the Energy Foundation in collaboration with the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Issues that came up included electricity bill and tariff analysis, electrical system considerations, motor and transformer technologies, motor control technologies and application as well as refrigeration and lighting systems.

Mr Duodu counselled manufacturing companies to avoid the use of aged, outmoded or second-hand equipment as they consumed more energy to the detriment of business growth. They should do everything to install voltage optimization equipment such as voltage stabilizer, surge protection system and uninterrupted power supply to help reduce maintenance cost, he said. Nana Asante Frimpong, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regional Manager of the AGI, described the workshop as timely and said it would help build the capacity of SMEs to enable them to appreciate and mainstream energy efficiency and conservation in their business practices and operations. 29 Oct. 10