Smart Energy Monitors Technology for Energy Conservation at Ashongman in Accra

Abstract

This study investigates the use of Smart Energy Monitors (SEMs) technology which has been introduced to help electricity consumers conserve energy and to ensure energy efficiency among residents in Ashongman, a suburb of Accra. Ghana as a developing country has gone through an energy crisis recently. There has been a shortfall of electricity generation capacity where demand has exceeded supply, which resulted in load shedding management. This study seeks to find out the energy conservation habits among Ghanaian residents at Ashongman and also to investigate the use of SEMs for energy conservation. The findings of the study showed 16% of respondents were aware of the benefits of SEMs in electricity conservation whilst 84% did not know. 72.7% of the respondents who were aware of SMEs have used it whilst 27.3% of respondents who aware of SEMs have not used it for energy conservation purposes. The findings also further indicated the challenges respondents face in conserving energy in their homes and the measures that need to be put in place to ensure energy efficiency. On the basis of the findings, it is recommended for the Energy Commission and Electricity Company of Ghana that, there should be effective policy to educate consumers on adapting SEMs technology for energy conservation.