Unveiling the Consumer’s Taste Attributed to Energy Efficiency labelled Appliance: Evidence from Energy Efficiency 2019 Appliance Compliance Monitoring Report

Abstract

In Ghana, standards and labelling (S&L) for appliances and the Rebate refrigerator initiative were implemented in 2011 and 2012 respectively to offer consumers the awareness they really need making well-informed decisions about monitored appliances when purchasing monitored appliances and then to encourage standards and labelling. The study assessed the consumers’ compliance level for home energy saving initiatives based on the report from the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency & Climate Change Directorate of Ghana on Compliance Monitoring and Data Collection in December 2019. More precisely, the study looked at the compliance level of standards and labels with the Rating of Energy Labels (ERL) of the Ghanaian market appliances and the influence exerted on the consumers’ taste for energy labelled appliances. In the Ghanaian distribution and the retail outlets throughout the regions, a total of 6739 appliances were surveyed including; 6198 refrigeration appliances together with 541 air-conditioners. The compliance level with the availability of its test report of all refrigerating appliances and air conditioners found on the market is 99.62% and 99.37% respectively. The standard of compliance for refrigerating equipment in all retail stores or shops is 97.34%, while that of air conditioners is 97.80%. The results of the report shows 99% compliance level for cooling appliances on the Ghanaian market. This study recommends the need to stimulate and enable Ghanaian importers and manufacturers to bring to the market more energy-efficient refrigerators and air- conditioners. Again, government must take into account national needs and to ensure that efficient energy products are accessible and desirable to enterprises in supplying the appliances.