Energy Efficiency Reality with Reference to the Residential Sector in Uganda

Abstract

This paper reviews the status of energy efficiency for the residential sector in Uganda. Energy efficiency simply means “less energy same output”. It is estimated that more than 50% of households in Uganda don’t have electricity grid-connection yet a lot of investment has been put in electrification programmes and construction of dams and power plants. Contrary, people usually find alternatives to grid electricity, in biomass and solar energy mostly. Majority of the households in Uganda use Charcoal and wood for cooking, and moreover in an inefficient way. Ugandan households use electricity mainly for lighting and television but still with less efficient appliances or systems. Using highly energy-efficient appliances in residences can save a lot of energy that can be used to connect thousands of new customers, instead of building new power plants. Thus, a portion of the money intended for rural electrification through new dam construction can be channeled into facilitating and subsidizing on, the acquisition of such appliances.