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From thebahamasweekly.com - Bahamas Information Services Updates
Nassau, Bahamas -- The Bahamas Government has embarked on a mission to reduce energy consumption with the launch of an energy audit at Anatol Rodgers High School.
“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. © Copyright 2009 by thebahamasweekly.com - |
