Science Conservation Energy 2 Accra

Mr Wayo said the standards and labeling regime being pursued by Ghana would provide consumers with a choice in making informed purchase decisions.

He noted that consumers were often inclined to buy cheap products on the market, without considering their resultant burdens such as increased energy demands and the drain on their pockets.

"The Energy Commission as a regulator has the duty to enforce such standards and labeling to protect Ghanaians from such expensive cheap buys' at a limited cost and protect manufacturers of highly efficient products from producers who want to saturate the market with their expensive cheap buys', Mr Way said.

He enumerated benefits of standards and labeling as far as energy conservation was concerned, saying the switch from the use of incandescent to CFLs saved the country about 33 million dollars annually.

"It is also estimated that the application of standards and labeling on refrigerating appliances as conceived by the Energy Commission can save the country over 100 million dollars annually," he added.

Mr Wayo stated that the same standards and labeling regime extended to cover air-conditioners was saving the country about 52 million dollars annually.

He said benefits of standards and labeling had direct impact on households and business energy bills, stressing that the reduction of power during peak periods as a result of the use of energy efficient appliances would improve grid reliability, afford better and more stable power to consumers.

Mr Wayo said global application of standards and labeling would reduce trade barriers, thereby reducing appliance prices to consumers and making energy services more affordable and local manufacturers might also benefit from a larger market for their products because they meet international standards.

He noted that it was the conviction of the EC that the introduction of standards and labeling combined with support for local manufacturers would reduce production cost to make them competitive.