[Feedback]

[Site Map]

[Contact Us]

Caribbean islands urged to invest in solar water heaters

Contact: Adhara King

Thursday, May 29, 2008 – Regional energy consultant, Dr. Trevor Byer is urging Caribbean islands to follow the lead of Barbados in investing more heavily in solar water heaters.

Byer said in light of the limited energy resource endowments received by the islands, power utility companies need to begin managing consumer demands more efficiently.  Advocating the switch to solar water heaters is something, he said, will be beneficial to all parties involved.

According to Byer: “The solar water heater programme is something where there is a classic Caribbean model, one of the models of excellence out of Barbados, which started their program in the late 1970's, and indeed is something to be patterned by all of those islands that have not to date. Barbados has about 32,000 water heaters installed in a population of 270,000 people and has the  2nd highest per capita usage of these devices in the world.”

Chief Executive Officer of St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC), Trevor Louisy supports Byer's suggestion, and is prepared to work to establish the initiative.

“I think it's an excellent initiative. We need to perhaps do a lot more P.R. I think the problem what we face in some of our countries, is that people look at the initial capital outlay that they have to make in terms of putting up a solar heater which is like about $5000 or $6000, but I think there is some financing available from some of the lending institutions, so when you look at it, I think it is a very good suggestion,” he said.

Louisy said LUCELEC customers would get an opportunity to reduce their electricity bills while still enjoying the comfort of warm water.

Dr. Byer, on the other hand, advises power utility companies to engage the efficiency thrust at the national level. He also appeals to government administrations to facilitate the switch by providing incentives and other necessary support for the implementation.

[ Home ] [ Up ] [Site Help]

© 2008 Government Information Service. All rights reserved.

Read our privacy guidelines.