EDITORIAL - Falling short on energy-saving goals

Here we go again. The finance minister's promise of an aggressive programme of energy conservation in the public sector has been mouthed repeatedly over the years, with ample evidence that no one is really taking this matter seriously.

The evidence is clear. Financial Secretary Dr Wesley Hughes reported that the public sector has failed to achieve its energy-efficiency targets, falling short of the 15 per cent savings they had hoped to make in electricity usage.

It will take more than announcements to make it happen. Realising these goals will depend on successfully promoting sustainable behaviours among the workforce by convincing employees of the importance of energy efficiency to a buoyant economy and showing them how it is in their long-term interest to participate in achieving these goals.

We suggest that parliamentarians begin by ensuring that their chauffeurs cut the engines of their gas-guzzling SUVs while they wait around for them to return from social engagements.

This practice must be stopped because it is a waste of energy and of money at a time when the cost of operating a motor vehicle has soared on high petrol prices. The best first step is to lead by example. If our parliamentarians want to get people in the public sector all fired up about saving energy, they should send strong signals that they also understand that inefficient energy poses a threat to sustainable growth and development. Because of the country's precarious economic situation, we have become fixated on economic goals. For sure, these are critical, yet we should not ignore energy and environmental goals.

AUDIT GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

It is a fact that most energy is consumed in buildings, so if Mr Shaw and his Government are really serious about cutting energy usage, there should be energy audits of all government buildings and facilities in order to get a good assessment of their energy efficiency.

We suspect that many public facilities are in need of urgent refurbishment if they are to become energy-efficient. Once it is determined how to move forward, efficiency officers should be appointed throughout the public sector with an incentive to meet new energy-efficiency goals. When the targets are reached, the incentives could include bonuses for the staff who would have contributed to the achievement of the targets.

Clean energy use is the mantra of many governments, and they are looking to hydro, nuclear, wind and solar energy. Many private-sector organisations have taken the tough and expensive step of retrofitting their plants to save energy and embrace a cleaner environment. The Government should take its cue from the private sector.

It is commendable that despite setbacks, the innovative Cuban light-bulb programme to replace incandescent light bulbs with efficient fluorescent ones has restarted, and we urge householders to make use of this affordable way to cut their electricity bills.

The nation's best hope is for the Government to get bipartisan agreement on a comprehensive energy policy that will spur awareness of renewable energy and energy efficiency in every Jamaican.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.