Belize continues to bet on energy efficiency

As part of a regional effort to improve energy efficiency in CARICOM member states, the Ministry of Energy, Science & Technology and Public Utilities (MESTPU) of Belize has partnered with the OAS Department of Sustainable Development, and in cooperation with the OAS Belize Office, launched the “Standards and Labelling” component of the Energy for Sustainable Development in Caribbean Buildings Project (ESD) during an event held from June 30 to July 2, 2015.

Energy Director of the MESTPU, Ambrose Tillet, affirmed that “the OAS project will create an opportunity to pool a greater mass of capabilities to deliver on the ambitious goals and targets set out in the national sustainable energy strategy action plan”. The three day event, held in Belmopan and Belize City, allowed OAS specialists and external experts to consult   with stakeholders in Belize which products can enter the market and which should be eliminated, in order to allow  consumers choosing products that use less energy. Expert consultants from McGeown Associates and CLASP, renowned firms in the field, participated in the event. 

The project is part of the Sustainable Energy Capacity Building Initiative (SECBI) that is currently benefiting 15 countries in the region, through nationally-tailored projects such as Belize’s “Towards the Intensification of Energy Efficiency efforts in Government, Businesses and Households in Belize.” SECBI is funded by the United States Permanent Mission to the OAS through the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA).

Specifically, the project promotes the adaptation of minimum energy performance standards for lighting, cooling, refrigeration and industrial motors in the country. When completed, it is anticipated that the project will: contribute to Belize’s sustainable development by creating an enabling environment for investments in, and utilization of, efficient and renewable energy measures; create a platform for lower electricity rates; and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

One of the noteworthy conclusions of this initial visit is that the project can serve as a “proof of concept” in promoting a modernized energy sector in the Caribbean. The MESTPU has already advanced concepts that will improve Belize’s energy footprint, and is positioning the country as a reference for others in the region. In this connection, the support of the OAS-SEDI will be pivotal in helping to align many individual program elements into a comprehensive model that can be adapted to serve each constituent, as well as in facilitating the documentation and sharing of this experience, thereby enhancing its potential to benefit the entire Caribbean region.

This article was originally published in SEDI Newsletter, here.

See also: Belize to adopt 100% renewables plan