Making Energy Savings by the Engagement of Small and Medium-sized Enterprise on Energy Management

Isaac Ayebah Adams,Samuel Gyamfi,Christian Kwaku Amuzuvi

doi:10.11648/j.jeee.20210902.12

Abstract

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are crucial in every economy, comprising ninety-nine percent (99%) of enterprises and providing about sixty percent (60%) of employment. They contribute about fifty percent (50%) of global gross value addition and between sixteen percent (16%) to about eighty percent (80%) of gross domestic product (IEA, 2015). Individual SMEs use small amounts of energy, but their collective energy demand is considerable. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates SMEs to consume more than thirteen (13%) of total global energy demand i.e. about 74 exajoules (EJ). Effective energy efficiency measures can save as much as 30% of consumption, namely 22 EJ, which is more than the energy used by Japan and Korea per year (IEA, 2015). Therefore, the increase in energy efficiency offers a substantial value for economies, societies and SMEs. This research looks at how SMEs in the Sunyani Municipality take seriously their energy consumption and how energy management can help reduce energy cost through efficiency improvement and increase profitability and growth of their businesses. The study was designed into two forms. Firstly, the energy use practices of the SMEs were investigated. Secondly, the study applied energy auditing method to identify energy reduction strategies that can help reduce the energy consumption of the SMEs. The results reveal that, majority of energy consumers in SMEs do not pay attention to their energy consumption patterns as indicated by 92% of the respondents interviewed. The increase in energy consumption among SMEs could be attributable to the increase in electricity bills. The energy audit identified energy conservation opportunities that can help reduce energy usage in the various SMEs such as switching from CFL and T12 lamps to LED bulbs, replacing old refrigerators, hair driers and industrial irons with more efficient ones, and replacing worn out equipment with high energy efficient ones. The study recommends the use of public education in a paradigm shift from the use of old appliances to new ones in order to save energy and cost.

Highlights

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play important roles in the economy of both developed and developing countries and contributes to growth of industry and the creation of jobs for its citizens
The responses that emerged from the questionnaire highlighted the energy related decisions of SMEs in the Sunyani Municipality
Energy audit method was applied in the various SMEs to help identify energy reduction opportunities that can help reduce the energy consumption in SMEs

Summary

Introduction

SMEs play important roles in the economy of both developed and developing countries and contributes to growth of industry and the creation of jobs for its citizens They encourage private ownership and builds entrepreneurial skills. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated that, SMEs share of energy demand account for at least 13% of the global final energy consumption annually, yet their ramifications on energy and the environment is relatively understudied. They are rarely the subject of government policy, dismissed for being ‘too difficult’ to reach [1].

Methods

Results

Conclusion