The Energy Commission has developed a comprehensive policy that seeks to ban importation and use of second-hand refrigerators in the country. The policy is expected to take effect from June 2010. It includes an incentive package for people who would replace their old refrigerators and buy a five star-rated refrigerator for a fee yet to be decided by the commission and relevant stakeholders. The Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Dr Alfred Ofosu-Ahenkorah, made this known at an inception workshop held for players in the energy sector at its head office in Accra. So far, the commission has secured a $2.7 million support from Multilateral Fund of Canada, Global Energy Fund and the Government of Ghana for the commencement of the project. The move would also ensure that all electrical gadgets, particularly refrigerators, air conditioners, microwave ovens and washing machines imported into the country have the star-rating labels on them. By this initiative, any one buying a new refrigerator with a five-star rating will get a discounted coupon to be redeemed in cash at a participating bank. For users of second-hand fridges, they also receive a coupon at a fee for the old fridge sent to any of the collection points distributed all over the country. Dr Ofosu-Ahenkorah, later in an interview, said the move was to ensure efficiency and conservation in the country’s energy usage. He explained that every fridge had a total lifespan of 15 years, adding that “almost all the second-hand fridges brought into the country are about 10 years old and are also not designed for our tropical condition”. He indicated that as a result of the different climatic conditions from one continent to the other, most of the fridges imported from Europe were not good for use in Ghana. Dr Ofosu-Ahenkorah said such gadgets consumed more than 1400 Kwh energy per year. The normal consumption for these gadgets, he said, should be between 250 and 300 Kwh energy per year. In his presentation, the UNDP Technical Advisor on Climate Change, Mr Benoit Lebot, commended Ghana for taking such a giant step toward energy efficiency in the country. He, however, asked the authorities to put measures in place for the introduction of energy efficiency labels on property such as buildings and cars. He mentioned that some electrical gadgets such as DVD players, microwaves, printers, and monitors consumed much more energy when left in the electrical sockets than when they were in use. Mr Lebot said the only way countries such as Ghana could ensure efficiency in the energy sector was to do away with obsolete technology and change in behaviour in the use of energy. He said the use of renewable energy could also be of help to the country’s energy sector. In an interview, the General Secretary of the National Refrigerators and Air-condition Workshop Owners Association, Mr Kofi Crentsil, said the move by the Energy Commission was in the right direction and the association was prepared to support it in every way possible. Source: Daily Graphic