KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Police Convalescent Centre (JPCC) says it has seen savings of $3.5 million on its electricity bill resulting from an energy efficiency air conditioning and lighting upgrade.

The exercise is being undertaken by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ).

The JPCC, which provides care for police personnel who have been injured in the line of duty, was retrofitted in 2013 with an energy efficient air-conditioning system, comprising 18 mini-split inverter units with a combined capacity of 13 tons.

In addition, four years ago the interior lights at the centre were replaced with light-emitting diode and compact fluorescent lamps, while solar photovoltaic stand-alone lighting systems were placed throughout the exterior.

Speaking at the official handing over ceremony last Friday at the JPCC in Black River, St Elizabeth, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr Andrew Wheatley said his ministry’s vision to revolutionise and diversify the energy sector had placed Jamaica firmly on a path to achieving energy security, reducing the cost of electricity and modernising the sector. He noted that the $3.5 million that the JPPCC saved between February 2013 and June 2017 proves the principle of savings from energy conservation to be true.

Also speaking at the ceremony Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Dianne McIntosh, expressed gratitude for what she described as “an extraordinary act of significant kindness” from the PCJ.

McIntosh commended the PCJ on its initiative to equip public sector facilities with energy-efficient technology and encouraged them to continue to play their role towards collaborative savings.