Ghana & Senegal

United for Efficiency is partnering with the governments of Ghana and Senegal, the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), and the Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy (BASE) to implement the ECOWAS Refrigerators and Air Conditioners Initiative (ECOFRIDGES).

ECOFRIDGES promotes the accelerated transition to energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling appliances. The initiative supports national sustainable development priorities while strengthening regional collaboration across ECOWAS countries. It follows an integrated policy approach to ensure that market transformation can be sustained domestically without continued external support.

At a Glance

Focus on energy-efficient and climate-friendly refrigerators and air conditioners
Funded by the Clean Cooling Collaborative
Developed in partnership with ECREEE and BASE
Designed for replication across ECOWAS

Project Details

Main Components

Countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are experiencing significant economic and population growth, increasing demand for refrigerators and air conditioners in the residential sector.

While cooling appliances are essential for health, well-being and economic competitiveness, outdated equipment can consume two to three times more energy than efficient models and often uses refrigerants with high environmental impact. Barriers such as limited information on product performance, inadequate policy frameworks, higher upfront costs and restricted access to financing hinder the adoption of efficient technologies.

ECOFRIDGES aims to unlock USD 8.4 million in financing to support the purchase of approximately 23,600 energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling products in Ghana and Senegal, replacing older equipment currently in use.

Develop technical notes on refrigerating appliances and air conditioners
Develop draft MEPS and labels
Provide technical assistance on implementation by subset of countries

ECOFRIDGES

ECOWAS Refrigerators and Air Conditioners Initiative (ECOFRIDGES)

The initiative builds on existing policy experience in Ghana and ongoing regional work led by ECREEE. Resources developed under the project will be packaged into a toolkit, and training will be provided to other ECOWAS countries to support replication.

Complementary components include:

Proper disposal of replaced appliances
Product testing
Monitoring and verification
Policy support
Awareness-raising campaigns

Ghana and Senegal will also be recognised internationally for their leadership through outreach and events organised by UNEP.

Main components

Conduct national market assessments on the equipment, key stakeholders and practices
Develop Financial Mechanisms to promote efficient, climate-friendly refrigerators and air conditioners, with eligibility criteria adapted from U4E’s Model Regulation Guidelines
Monitor the initial operation of the scheme and enforce eligibility criteria and programme protocols
Collect and recycle/process old, operable products
Conduct communication campaigns to raise awareness and interest
Provide capacity building locally and more generally for others in ECOWAS based on lessons learned

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Financial model

In Ghana, ECOFRIDGES Green On-Wage Financing (GO) is a bank loan product designed to address the short- to medium-term financing needs of public and private sector employees. Through salary deductions, the scheme enables consumers to replace used but operational equipment with certified, energy-efficient cooling systems without the burden of upfront investment or collateral requirements. The employer acts as the guarantor for the salaried customer’s loan, reducing the need for stringent credit assessments.

In Senegal, ECOFRIDGES On-Bill Financing allows consumers to finance the purchase of efficient cooling appliances through monthly payments on their electricity bills. Eligibility for financing is determined through a review of bill payment history, income and other basic information. A financial tracking tool is used to monitor repayment progress and programme operations, ensuring the long-term viability of the mechanism.