The Energy Commission of Ghana has advised consumers to scan the Commission's newly introduced yellow star rating's label which comes with a QR code, placed on home appliances to verify the potency and energy efficiency of products before making a purchase.
By scanning the QR code, consumers can access information on the appliance intended to be purchased, its energy efficiency rating, manufacturer details, and other relevant information.
According to the Commission, this will help consumers make informed purchasing decisions and also promote the country's energy efficiency.
Mr. Samuel Kwabena Frimpong, Senior Officer for Public Affairs at the Energy Commission made the expression after a day's workshop in Cape Coast for media practitioners in the Central Region on Ghana's new Energy Efficiency Regulations.
The training held in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), sort to enhance the media's appreciation of the country's energy efficiency regulations enacted in 2022 by parliament to effectively communicate on energy related issues in the discharge of their duty.
Mr. Frimpong in an interaction with Sompa TV's Eric Annan, explained that the energy regulation is in force to crackdown on persons selling sub-standard appliances on the market.
He opined that the initiative aims to reduce the sale of counterfeit products which may be unsafe or inefficient to consumers, as it also seeks to verify that appliances purchased meet energy efficiency standards.
“People have realized that the more the star ratings, the more the market. So, they now find means to increase the stars to shortchange people, which intepretes as cheating to the system,” Mr. Frimpong echoed.
He further uncovered that the new energy regulation has granted the Commission the permission to regulate 17 other appliances in addition to the Energy Commission's initial regulation of refrigerators, air-conditioners, and bulbs.
These new appliances according Mr. Frimpong includes washing machines, television sets, fans, street lights, distribution transformers, microwaves, rice cookers, electric motors, among others which will be having the Commission's yellow label from now onwards.
The Energy Commission's stance chosen follows an emerging trend of local electrical appliance vendors falsifying the energy-efficient star ratings on their imported goods. An act which goes against the country's energy regulations and punishable by law.
Sompaonline.com//Eric Annan