ELECTRICITY CONSERVATION AND SAFETY AWARENESS AMONG SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

Awareness of conservation and safety issues regarding electrical energy use among students is critical. This study has determined the level of electricity conservation and safety awareness among senior high school students in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study was carried out through the administration of questionnaires to eight hundred and eighty-three students in five selected schools in the study region. The study assessed awareness levels based on gender, programme of study and academic study level. The questionnaires were developed to establish student’s knowledge of specific energy conservation practices relating to various consumer appliances, their motivation or otherwise to support institutional efforts to reduce energy consumption as well as their awareness of specific issues regarding electric shocks and electric fires. Analysis of the administered questionnaires point to the fact that a very high percentage of the students in all the three categories considered are aware of most of the issues presented to them. Also, a high percentage of them are inclined towards factors that motivate energy savings. Of the categories evaluated, females, students in the first level of study, and those studying Home Economics had the highest average awareness levels. The findings of this study will be very useful for educational campaigns concerning electricity use.

Keywords

• energy conservation
• energy efficiency
• electric safety