Minister of State with responsibility for Energy in the Ministry of The Environment the Hon Phenton Neymour (centre) inspects an air conditioning unit, Monday, December 7, at Anatol Rodgers High School as part of an energy audit exercise. Also pictured is Judith Major, principal of Anatol Rodgers High and Dr. Achim Stuible, senior consultant with Fichtner, consultancy firm. (BIS photo/Letisha Henderson)

“The whole intent of the audit is to improve our energy security, which essentially means to lower our reliance on petroleum products,” said Minister of State with responsibility for Energy in the Ministry of the Environment, the Hon Phenton Neymour.  

“The entire idea is to find commonalities and ways to improve energy efficiency and assist consumers in regards to their electrical bills.  

“We hope that this will be a continuing program in which we can improve the energy usage throughout government agencies and ministries with a view of lowering taxes and energy consumption,” said Mr Neymour.  

“The fuel surcharge for the Bahamas Electricity Corporation has dropped to 9 cents per kilowatt hour which is the lowest it has been in many years.  

“At this time we must still continue with an energy efficiency program because we are not aware of what the future charges will be. Although the fuel surcharge is low at this time, it is important that we begin this process and continue with it because the rewards will be later down the road.”  

The audit, an initiative of the Energy Policy Committee, procured with the Inter-American Development Bank is being conducted by Fichtner, a German consultancy firm.   

It is being performed at three high schools, the Princess Margaret Hospital, government clinics and other government buildings, 18 hotels in New Providence and the Family Islands, as well as 20 homes.  

Glen Laville, project manager and consultant with the Ministry of The Environment explained that the audit includes the design of buildings, operations, air condition units, cooling methods and different types of bulbs.  

“We will also be looking at the building code to see how we can change regulations to improve energy efficiency. The whole idea is to develop a national energy efficiency program so these are merely samples from the different sectors to give some commonality so that we can make recommendations moving forward.  

“Nationally you may not see the individual findings but what you will see is the result of all of the findings, the audits and recommendations because it is the Government’s intent to do it on a national scale,” added Mr Laville.  

Following an inspection, Mr Neymour pointed out a few energy saving avenues including the air condition unit and lights at the school.  

“Inside the foyer the lights are on where there is adequate lighting from the outside. And as we stand and listen to the air condition running we can question the efficiency of that air condition right now because of its loudness and the operation of the fan,” Mr Neymour said.