USAID schools hoteliers in energy conservation
WESTERN BUREAU: LARGE AND small hoteliers from across the island were schooled on the value of energy conservation during the first United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID), Caribbean Clean Energy Programme’s (CARCEP) energy efficiency training workshop, which was held at Half Moon Resort, in Montego Bay, earlier this week.
The two-day event saw hotel personnel, including managers, engineers, and financial officers being offered advice and guidance on how to implement energy efficiency and renewable-energy measures on their respective hotel properties.
The process was advanced through the introduction of a Web-based benchmarking tool that gives out real-time data on energy consumption based on information inputs.
“The function of this tool is that it will give energy consumption statistics from hotels in the region and individual hotels will be able to compare their own consumption with those of similar properties to determine how to align their consumption with competitors,” explained Mars Barry, USAID mission director.
Barry indicated that not only would this practice contribute to Jamaica becoming more energy independent, but would also save the country millions on its oil bill.
In 2012, Jamaica spent 54 per cent of all its foreign exchange earnings to purchase petroleum at a cost of US$2.4 billion.
“We all know that the tourism sector is vital to Caribbean economies, and that is why supporting the industry in tapping into renewable energy and efficiency measures is also important,” said Barry.
Omar Robinson, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association, said that it was time the sector found more cost-effective and environmentally friendly ways to generate energy.
The training workshop is the first in a series of eight being delivered to beneficiary countries under the USAID Caribbean Clean Energy Programme. The eight countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The next workshop is scheduled to be held in St Lucia.