$81 Million Invested in Energy Efficient Systems

More than $81 million has been invested in the installation of energy efficient systems at seven schools, a police station and the head office of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information.

Approximately $68 million was spent to replace 240 air conditioning (AC) units at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Montego Bay Community College, Runaway Bay HEART Academy, Jamaica College, St. Andrew High School for Girls and the Greater Portmore Police Station.

The remaining $13 million went towards the application of solar film on glass doors and windows at the Ministry in Kingston.

Technical Officer for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programme (EECP) in the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology, Lincoln Dean, said that the inefficient AC units at the schools and police station were replaced with inverter-type systems that use less energy.

Mr. Dean, who was addressing a JIS Think Tank on Friday (April 29), further informed that the solar film application at the Education Ministry has significantly reduced heat and glare from the sun. As a result the building feels much cooler, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the AC system.

The project is aimed at reducing the public sector energy bill. It is being funded by the Government in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The initiative involves replacing energy-wasting and outdated air conditioning units and lighting with more efficient models; and installing central cooling, solar control film on windows, as well as cool roof solutions.

Since its inception two and a half years ago, the project has saved the Government approximately $100 million in energy cost.

Mr. Dean told JIS News that the EECP also provides technical help in energy conservation to Government entities.