Estimating Energy Conservation Potential Of Local Metal Casting Units In Uganda Using Data Envelopment Analysis

ABSTRACT This study sought to determine the relative energy efficiency of metal casting units in Uganda with a view of estimating the energy conservation potential. Data Envelopment Analysis DEA tool was used to accomplish this task. Energy consumption data was collected through interviews and field observations from the different foundries and was used as the input data for the model. Six foundries in the Central region of Uganda were surveyed following a snowball sampling technique. This consisted mainly of the annual energy consumption by the different foundries while the model outputs were annual total sales and annual total profits. Results showed that all the foundries were energy efficient with the exception of one foundry E as indicated by its energy efficiency score of less than unity. It can be seen that there exists potential in foundry E for energy savings and this may be accomplished by emulating energy management practices in the other units most especially foundry A and foundry D. The findings in this study can also be extended to other energy intensive industries in the country like the cement industry.