Designing cookstove labels to influence consumer behavior in Ghana

Panel: 2. Policy: governance, design, implementation and evaluation challenges

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Michael Spiak, CLASP, USA
Yang Yu, CLASP, USA
Ranyee Chiang, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, USA
Paula Edze, Energy Commission Ghana, Ghana
Ruth Essuman, Kantar Public Ghana, Ghana

Abstract

Three billion people in low- and middle-income countries use cooking fuels and technologies that pose health risks associated with household air pollution, and environmental impacts associated with GHG emissions and deforestation. In response, efforts are underway across the globe to transition households to cleaner, safer, and more fuel-efficient cookstoves. The government of Ghana is planning to launch a new national performance standards and labeling (S&L) program for improved cookstoves, in an effort to increase the uptake of ICS across their urban and rural populations. This paper discusses the development of the Ghana improved cookstove label, specifically two components: informed visual label design, and setting performance thresholds for label tiers (tier-setting). The paper includes the approach and methodology for both components, as well as preliminary results from consumer research on preferences and behavior change in response to cookstove labels, and analysis and recommendations for label tiers.