Development of Energy Performance Standards and Labeling for Lights, Air conditioners and Refrigerators

Since 2010, the Republic of Benin has implemented the project of Development of Access to Modern Energy (DAME). DAME’s component, “Improving energy efficiency of lighting and appliances among urban households with access to electricity”, is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). One of its objectives is to create a legal framework to promote energy efficiency (EE) by adopting energy performance standards and labeling (S&L) for two types of electrical appliances which account for a big share of energy demand by households and service organizations: lights and air-conditioners. There are two essential reasons for carrying out this component:

• To reduce the energy dependence of the country which imports 100% of its petroleum products and 85% of its electricity.
• To stop the influx into the Beninese market of low-EE appliances which are subject to developed countries’ regulations but are still used by consumers in developing countries, thereby causing energy overconsumption.

  The DAME project’s main objectives are to 1) draft energy performance standards for lights, individual air-conditioners and refrigerators on the basis of international practices and a market study on the Beninese situation; and 2) build a strategy and an action plan for an energy labelling scheme of these appliances in Benin.

The MERPMEDER commissioned Econoler to help DAME’s project team implement the energy performance standards and labeling (S&L). To complete this assignment, Econoler carried out the following tasks:

• Analyzing the national and international situations regarding energy performance S&L and searching for appropriate good practices.
• Conducting an in-depth data study to estimate the Beninese’s lighting and household appliances market.
• Creating an Energy Label adapted to the national context and defining the minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for the lamps, individual air-conditioners and refrigerators targeted by the study.
• Developing a training plan and holding two rounds of validation and capacity-building workshops of local key actors.
• Building a national strategy and legal regulations governing the application of EE standards.
• Holding a second round of validation and capacity-building workshops for local key players.
• Developing an action plan to implement energy performance S&L.
• Conducting studies on the impacts of the proposed energy performance S&L, and developing coaching and awareness incentives.

  After Econoler’s analysis and a series of consultations alongside DAME’s project team, Beninese authorities had all the technical and regulatory means to adopt and implement the energy performance S&L created during this mandate. Once established, these regulations will help decreasing the amount of low-EE imported lamps, individual air-conditioners and refrigerators while encouraging potential consumers to take energy saving decisions.