Refrigerator Efficiency in Ghana: Tailoring an appliance markettransformation program design for Africa

Journal Article · Tue Feb 28 04:00:00 EST 2006 · Energy Policy

OSTI ID:918658

Ben Hagan, Essel; Van Buskirk, Robert; Ofosu-Ahenkorah, Alfred; McNeil, Michael A

A simple replication of developed country applianceefficiency labels and standards is unlikely to be feasible in Ghana andmany other countries in Africa. Yet by creatively modifying the developedcountry appliance efficiency market transformation model, it should bepossible to achieve dramatic energy use reductions. As was true indeveloped countries in the previous two decades, refrigeration efficiencyimprovements provide the greatest energy savings potential in theresidential electricity sector in Ghana. Although Ghana, like manyAfrican countries may impose standards on imports since Ghana does nothave manufacturing facilities for appliances in country. This approachmay hurt some consumers who patronize a very diverse market of usedappliances imported from Europe. We discuss how meeting the challenges ofthe Ghanaian market will require modification of the usual energyefficiency labeling and standards paradigm. But once a refrigeratormarket transformation is accomplished in Ghana, we estimate an averageenergy savings potential of 550 kWh/refrigerator/year, and a monetarysavings of more than $35/refrigerator/year. We discuss how this modifiedrefrigerator efficiency market transformation may occur in the Ghanaiancontext. If successful, this market transformation is likely to be anexample for many other African countries.

• Research Organization: COLLABORATION - CSIR Institute for IndustrialResearch
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 918658
• Report Number(s): LBNL--61251; BnR: 600301010
• Journal Information: Energy Policy, Journal Name: Energy Policy Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 35; ISSN ENPYAC; ISSN 0301-4215
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AFRICA
APPLIANCES
DESIGN
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRICITY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EUROPE
GHANA
IMPORTS
MARKET
MODIFICATIONS
REFRIGERATION
REFRIGERATORS
TRANSFORMATIONS
energy efficiency market transformation Africa energypolicy