A workshop to encourage Jamaicans to use energy wisely and to promote conservation and efficiency initiatives, will take place today at the Runaway Bay Heart Hotel and Training Institute, St Ann, beginning at 10:30 am.

The event is part of a public education campaign for the Energy Efficiency Campaign Programme (EECP), launched in 2012.

Jointly funded by the Government and the Inter-American Development Bank at a cost of US$20 million, the four-year EECP is designed to make the public sector a model on how energy is to be used in Jamaica. It involves retrofitting public sector buildings and facilities for energy conservation and efficiency.

Senior managers and energy champions from the 32 locations of HEART Trust/NTA, key persons within the parish of St Ann, the media as well as senior officials and a cross section of staff and trainees at the Institute have been invited to the event.

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell will deliver the main address. He is expected to speak about Government’s energy efficiency initiatives and call on all sectors of society to conserve energy.

Participants at the workshop will also be exposed to the public education campaign through the Ease up on the Energy song and energy skits, featuring ‘Leddy’, the Energy Mascot.

They will also receive public education materials, such as posters, flyers and stickers promoting efficient energy use.