Takoradi, June 07, GNA - Air conditioners that fail to meet the country's minimum energy efficiency standards would not be allowed into the Ghanaian market from December 31 this year. Mr Stephen Duodu, Programme Manager of the Energy Foundation, said this at a public forum organized by the Energy Commission in Takoradi. The forum was to educate the public on the law on air conditioners and compact fluorescent lamps.

Mr Duodu said LI 1815, passed into law in November last year, is now in voluntary compliance stage and would come into full force on December 31.

He said, "The Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) acceptable in the country is 2.8 watts of cooling per watt of electricity input or higher". Mr Duodu said least energy efficient air conditioners that arrived in the country during the full implementation of the law would either be shipped back or confiscated by the Custom, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).

He said Energy Guide Labels should be affixed on air conditioners to provide information on the model, manufacturer and energy efficiency star rating, estimated annual energy consumption, cooling output and type of refrigerant.

Mr Duodu said the law is to prevent the country from being the dumping ground for shoddy goods, reduce the country's growing dependence on imported energy, carbon dioxide emission as well as reduce cost of electricity for consumers.