The University of the West Indies (UWI) will on March 23, 2017, host a workshop to develop a draft policy to promote higher standards of energy efficiency and a transition to renewable energy in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
The workshop titled “Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment in the Caribbean: Energy Policy”, is being presented at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel under the “Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Promoting Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Building in Jamaica” (LGGE) project of the Institute of Sustainable Development (ISD) at The UWI.
The project, which is primed to deliver Jamaica’s and the Caribbean’s fist Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) is being implemented with financial support from the Global Environment Facility and technical assistance of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Professor Tara Dasgupta, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, UWI and one of two Principal Investigators on the project said that next month’s workshop “will be critical in developing a draft policy for NZEB Construction and retrofit guidelines on the island and recommendations for amendments to the existing draft Building Act.”
Professor Anthony Clayton, Professor of Caribbean Sustainable Development, ISD and also a Principal Investigator on the project said that “workshop participants will also learn how countries like Jamaica can simultaneously improve their energy efficiency, increase levels of disposable income, reduce energy imports, minimize exposure to the risks of energy price volatility and reduce the national contribution to climate change.”
Primarily aimed at professionals in the architecture, engineering and construction industries and government policymakers, the workshop will be declared open by the Minister of Energy, Science & Technology, Hon. Andrew Wheatley.
Topics to be explored include: “Jamaica’s Energy Policy in the Built Environment”; “Retrofitting of Existing Buildings: What is Happening now locally and globally”; Project Economics for renewable energy in the Caribbean Region”; “Building Capacity to Access Clean Technology Funding” and “Drafting Policies for NZEB Construction & Retrofitting Guidelines”.
A cadre of eminent architects, engineers and energy industry professionals will present at the workshop including Dr. Earl Green and Mr. Richard Lawrence. Keroma Bernard, Policy Consultant on the LGGE/NZEB project, will lead deliberations on the draft energy policy.