KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is set to benefit from a $31-million energy efficiency upgrade, which is being undertaken by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) at the Commission’s corporate offices in Kingston.

This major intervention, which is being executed under the PCJ’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programme (EECP), will involve a complete overhaul of the JCDC’s air-conditioning system and an upgrade of its electrical infrastructure.

The EECP, launched in 2012, aims to enhance Jamaica’s energy efficiency and conservation potential through the design and execution of concrete Energy Efficiency (EE) and Energy Conservation (EC) cost-saving measures in the public sector.

Work will include the installation of 49 indoor units with ventilation systems that should reduce energy cost at the entity and create a more comfortable environment for staff. The initiative is projected to reduce energy usage at the facility by 32 per cent.

The two agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday (November 21) at the PCJ offices in New Kingston.

 This will formalise the arrangements for the sharing of post-installation data, servicing and maintenance of the air-conditioning (AC) systems and cool roof application.

 The PCJ will also install cool roof technology, which should increase the operational efficiencies of the new AC units.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, who lauded the initiative, said it is in keeping with the Government’s thrust to increase the use of renewable energy.

 “Our energy needs have grown exponentially. Today, energy security and efficiency are major policy items for governments…, which have a duty to play a major role in this diversification. We are moving aggressively to ensure that we set the example and bring our private sector along to make sure that as a nation, we can achieve energy security,” she said.