By
Ruth Potopsingh,
Contributor
Jamaica
Gleanner
Kingston
Petroleumworld.com
03 05 06
IN
THE next five years total world energy demand will grow 18 per
cent, moving up to 104 percent in the next 25 years. In developing
countries, electricity demand is growing at an even faster rate.
Meanwhile, rising prices in oil and other energy supplies and
continuing market instability present an uncertain future for
everyone.
It
is wise that countries like Jamaica keep energy consumption
at affordable levels. Encouraging positive national awareness
of the need for and benefits of energy conservation already
drives government policy.
Such
policy will bring economic benefits in foreign exchange savings
and in other areas in a country as dependent on its natural
environment as Jamaica. When conservation helps to reduce energy
use, many environmental benefits follow. Those benefits include
air quality improvements and our contribution to the global
problem of climate change.
Our
challenge for this country is to get businesses, homeowners,
employees and the general public aware of the benefits of specific
energy efficiency technologies and practices. Energy efficiency
means promoting behaviour, working methods and manufacturing
techniques that are less energy intensive.
IMPORTANT
THRESHOLD
Jamaica
has already crossed an important threshold. Words such as 'energy
efficiency,' and 'environmental protection' no longer strike
terror in the hearts of business people. Such old fears once
equated environmental responsibility with higher costs. Jamaican
businesses now realise that becoming environmentally responsible
is not only a good thing to do, but it is the right thing to
do right for the environment and right for business. There is
even profit in it!
The
rising cost of domestic electricity and gasolene has triggered
a greater sense in the public for the need to conserve energy.
We must augment this heightened awareness with solid information
on practical approaches to reducing energy consumption.
The
Energy Efficiency Unit of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica,
as stipulated through the National Energy Policy of 1996, made
a commitment to develop a national energy efficiency and conservation
awareness campaign.
RATIONALE
There
are two important components to PCJ's energy conservation efforts:
1.
'No-cost' efforts These include simple ways to save energy by
ironing less, unplugging appliances when not in use and carpooling
with neighbours and co-workers.
2.
Investments in energy efficiency These include investing in
solar water heaters, energy-efficient stoves and refrigerators,
incandescent bulbs, low-flush toilets and low-flow faucets.
Many
Jamaicans believe they know very little about energy and so
behave in ways that don't always foster energy conservation.
The public awareness campaign is designed to create a cultural
shift. Because of that it also targets young people whose lifestyle
decisions today will determine their consumption patterns in
the future. That means sending messages that question and overturn
given assumptions that people now have. These must be messages
that shift current thinking.
The
other key element in the campaign is to show individuals and
institutions tangible benefits in the programmes we are promoting.
Investments in energy-saving devices will result in long-term
gains that will far outweigh the initial cost. People are much
more willing to adapt when their interests are addressed first.
Individual cost saving is obviously a good place to start. But
we expect them to be especially accommodating when we can show
energy conservation's positive impact on the national economy
and the quality of life for all of us. When we show them how
simple measures can bring immediate changes in their local communities
they woud be more willing to go along with the programme. Then
everyone will realise that when we use less, we pay less.
Mrs.
Ruth Potopsingh is group managing director of The Petroleum
Corporation of Jamaica and was part of the team that developed
the National Energy Policy. Mrs. Potopsingh also has full responsibility
for developing alternate energy strategies and projects particularly
in renewable energy technologies.
