Reduce Energy

Reducing Energy Consumption still big on the agenda, highlighted Senator Darcy Boyce, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Energy, Telecommunications, Immigration and Invest Barbados.

He was speaking last week on the occasion of the “Flip the Switch” Competition and Prize-Giving ceremony at the Solar House, Queen’s Park.

Boyce told the audience, “It should be noted that the development and promotion of alternative energy sources as well as the utilisation of energy efficient technologies in an attempt to reduce energy consumption has been the focal point of the Barbados government’s sustainable energy policies in the last decade. Historically, there exists a direct correlation between the economic development of a country, its increase in energy use, and unfortunately its greenhouse gas emissions. However, renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives can decouple that correlation and contribute to sustainable development.”

According to him, “Barbados like many small island developing states continues to be concerned about energy security and environmental sustainability, as well as the global price of oil as the costs directly impacts on our foreign
exchange earnings.”

“As a result, the Government of Barbados continuously revamps its energy policies to meet the current realities of our time. However, we must not only seek to eliminate the linked challenges in tackling climate change, promoting clean energy and achieving sustainable development, but we must endeavour to concentrate on forging sustainable synergies as well.

“This is borne out with the ‘DREAM’ project which is a multi-sectoral initiative necessitating coordination and cooperation amongst the Division of Energy and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Health, the Department
of Emergency Management, the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development and the National Sports Council.

“The objectives of the project include the installation of solar photovoltaic systems in public buildings, such as community centres and polyclinics, for clean energy access, increased climate resilience and disaster risk management. These facilities which are community-based will provide energy security in the event of power outages as a result of a disaster thus mitigating the risks associated with disasters…”

Boyce indicated, “I am heartened to see that through the Disaster Risk and Energy Access Management project, which is also known as the DREAM project, the competition was conceptualised and successfully executed, even with a small budget.

“Programme successes such as these are possible when the Government of Barbados partners with developmental and funding agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environmental Facility, as well as the private sector.”