The first efficiency standard and label in Africa has been developed in Ghana. This was done in collaboration with the Energy Foundation, Ghana Standards Board and other stakeholders.

The ?Standard? which has set the minimum efficiency level at an ?energy efficiency ratio? (EER) of 2.8 watts of cooling per watt of electricity, will result in energy cost savings of $13m in the first year of implementation, leading to $775m by the year 2020, if the implementation of the standards regime begins in 2003.

This was stated by Andrew Evans Quayson, chairman of the executive council of the Energy Foundation at its annual general meeting in Accra. Quayson said a label similar to the European Union energy label has been developed, adding that the United Nations Foundation, through the Collaborative Labelling and Appliance Standards Programme (CLASP) provided funding for this activity.

He said the Energy Foundation conducted a comprehensive industrial energy intensify survey in key industries in Ghana. The survey was conducted to determine the competitive position of Ghanaian industries with respect to energy consumption per unit of output.

The results concluded that while the intensities of some industries in Ghana are comparable with some of the best in the world, the bulk of industries in Ghana consume more energy per unit of output.

Quayson said the survey concluded that Ghanaian industrial and commercial enterprises could increase their international competitiveness if they implemented energy efficiency and conservation measures. He said the results have enabled the foundation to focus on key areas for intervention in its industrial energy efficiency advocacy, adding that it has also enabled the determination of the needs of industries and how they can be assisted to improve energy efficiency.