KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government says it will be spending US$30 million over the next two years under the Energy Management and Efficiency Programme (EMEP), as it pushes to reduce energy consumption in public facilities.

Some 80 government facilities will receive attention during this time, according to the Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Daryl Vaz. The minister was speaking Tuesday as he made his contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.

Vaz described the programme as a collaborative effort involving the Inter-American-Development Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the European Union-Caribbean Investment Facility and the Government of Jamaica.

The components of the programme aim to:

• reduce electricity consumption within health, education and other public sector facilities;

• reduce travel times and avoid fuel consumption through improved traffic control management;

* to support the development of Jamaica’s 20-year electricity plan.

The programme includes the retrofitting of government facilities inclusive of health, education and public agency facilities.

“This component includes the retrofitting of 80 government facilities with renewable energy and energy efficient interventions. These interventions include solar photovoltaic technology, LED lighting upgrade and energy efficient air conditioning technology

“The structural and electrical integrity assessments of 12 hospitals, ten schools and other public office buildings have been completed to support this effort,” Vaz said.

Meanwhile, Vaz, in response to a call from the Opposition Spokesman on Finance and the Public Service, Julian Robinson, for an update on the Public Sector Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programme (EECP), told the House that it came to an end in fiscal year 2020/21.

Vaz said that Robinson had stated erroneously that the programme had stalled.

“Not only did it end, but it achieved all objectives under its scope, Vaz said.

The objectives included:

• the installation of air conditioning retrofits at the Kingston Public Hospital, Jamaica Information Service, Tax Administration Jamaica – Donald Sangster Building, Montego Bay Revenue Service Centre, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance, the Blood Bank and the National Public Health Lab;

• the installation of mini-split AC units at seven facilities – Jamaica College, Edna Manley College, St Andrew High School, Montego Bay Community College, Moneague Teachers’ College, Greater Portmore Police Station, and HEART College of Hospitality Services/Runaway Bay Hotel.

• the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Survey for Public Sector workers which concluded a 73 per cent awareness level.

– Lynford Simpson