Government outlines measures to aid energy conservation in Jamaica

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has outlined several measures aimed at reducing the country’s high energy bill.

In his maiden budget speech as prime minister last week Tuesday, Golding stressed that the cost of energy was the most immediate challenge facing the economy.

“It affects virtually everything – the cost of production, transportation, the cost of living. It is the biggest drain on our foreign exchange,” Golding emphasised
He told the country that everyone must play their part to reduce the country’s energy bills. The prime minster said that households have been reducing their energy consumption (end) from an average of 200 kWh per month to 175 kWh in the last 5 years.

“But we must do more. We must each make a conscious effort to turn off lights and appliances when they are not needed, carpooling instead of driving separate vehicles in the same direction”.

Golding said that government would lead by example. “We have established an Energy Conser-vation Unit in the Cabinet Office to coordinate an effort across all ministries and agencies to reduce our energy consumption by 15 per cent this year,” the prime minister said.

Jamaica Gleaner