Businesses Encouraged to Use Energy Saving Devices

Minister of Energy, Clive Mullings, is encouraging entrepreneurs and professionals to install energy efficient devices at their places of business.
“For example, every one of our hotel rooms need to be fitted with sensors that automatically shut down the electricity when the room is unoccupied. Further the requirements for hot water and air conditioning should be met by solar thermal installations,” Mr. Mullings said.
The Minister who was making his contribution to the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday (July 1), noted that “these will be among the criteria to inform further consideration for incentives to this sector.”
“We are doing our part. Tax exempt items now fall into two broad categories renewable and energy efficient. The Ministry of Finance has agreed to increase items in these categories from 33 to over 100. This will be made available shortly when it’s signed off on and we have the codes, so that persons who have items to come in, (we will) see if they fit in those categories,” Mr Mullings said.
“The list is not closed. Any item which falls within the agreed categories will be considered. So if your items do not appear on the list, but if you can make a case to show that it is used for that purpose then it will be considered,” he added.
The Minister of Energy also informed that Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has indicated a willingness to offer more incentives to sectors of the economy that comply with energy conservation and efficiency practices.
Mr. Mullings noted that conservation is a lifestyle and “we must commit to it at a personal and business level.”