Energy Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh, on Wednesday, 5 October 2022, addressed the 5th edition of the Ghana Green Building Summit at the Cal Bank Auditorium in Accra.
Dr Prempeh said the subject matter of Green Building and the current energy transition conversation are all geared toward achieving climate change goals, pursuant to the Paris Agreement.
He said even before Ghana became a signatory to the Paris Accord, the energy sector had already taken steps to reduce carbon emissions on the environment. These he said include the Zero Gas Flaring Policy, the development of a Gas Master Plan, the conversion of all thermal power generators from liquid fuel-based generation to natural gas and the passage of the Renewable Energy Law, among other important interventions
Dr Prempeh said these are clear indications of the energy sector’s commitment to the reduction of carbon emissions and hence cannot disagree with the activities of the Green Building space.
“Ladies and gentlemen, with technical and financial support from GIZ, an Energy Performance Certification Scheme is being developed for public buildings using their specific energy consumption (KWh/m2). A tool for assessment and certification, in this respect, is being developed. Measures are also being put in place to train the needed professionals for the assessment,” he said.
He continued: “Seventeen new energy efficiency standards and labelling regulations for appliances including those commonly used in buildings such as electric kettles, television sets/monitors, clothes washing machines, rice cookers. These regulations will be ready soon for enforcement. The existing regulations for lighting bulbs, air conditioners and refrigerators have been revised to increase their energy efficiency levels.”
The minister gave the assurance that the energy sector remains committed to the climate change goals, cognisant of the peculiar circumstances of the African continent.
