OAS CSEP Project Host Workshop on Energy Efficiency Designs for Office and Public Buildings in Tropical Climates

The Organisation of Amercan States (OAS) Secretariat through the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP) and the Energy Efficiency Working Group of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA), hosted a workshop on energy efficiency designs for office and public buildings in tropical climates. The event took place at the Bay Gardens Inn in Rodney Bay from February 28th through March 1st, 2013. The CARICOM Secretariat is a Partner of the CSEP Project.

The Workshop addressed the capacity of Governments and energy stakeholders in charge of developing standards and provided guidance on opportunities and challenges linked to energy efficiency measures and renewable energy conversion technologies in buildings. A roundtable was held to debate future challenges, gaps and barriers linked to the implementation of energy efficiency standards, ways to advance discussions on this topic with policymakers, and next steps for their successful deployment. The Delegates also highlighted the need to create greater public awareness in the Caribbean with regard to energy efficiency.

Approximately 40 participants from the National Standards Bodies and Energy Desks of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, delegates from the European Union, the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), the Embassy of Mexico in Saint Lucia, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat, the Government of Germany through its Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme (CREDP/GIZ), engineers and members of the Saint Lucia Institute of Architects attended the event.

Participants provided feedback on the prospective guidelines on energy efficiency designs for office buildings, which were developed the Consultants Trama TecnoAmbiental (TTA).  Paulo Cesar Galván Tobón, from the Commission for the Efficient Use of Energy (CONUEE) of Mexico, announced his Government’s willingness to support the efforts of Caribbean nations in the advancement of energy efficiency policies and regulations.