Wednesday January 24, 2007
By Corliss Smithen
The sister island of Nevis is also expected to benefit from the energy conservation project, an initiative of the government that will enable the country to develop and grow through efficient energy programmes. As part of the venture, the administration has collaborated with the Cuban government to share out 140,000 energy saving bulbs to electricity consumers on St. Kitts. Premier of Nevis Joseph Parry said his country also stands to profit under the scope of the energy conservation drive. “The reason why we’re behind is because the previous administration did not respond to the government on the matter, but once we found out about the bulbs we told them we were interested. “I spoke to the Cuban ambassador who was in Nevis, this morning, and a team right now is doing a survey in Nevis to work out how many bulbs we need in Nevis.”. The survey is scheduled to be completed next week and Parry expects the bulbs to arrive on Nevis by next month. “The bulbs come highly recommended. I have heard even the Americans on the news media commenting on the technology and that is a product that is being marketed worldwide. “It has been reported that they can cut down the cost of consumption by at least 20 per cent, which will save energy for the consumer and by extension, the government,” Premier Parry said.
The amount of savings using these light bulbs is estimated at 23,594.4 KWH (kilowatt-hour), which would mean saving 1363.23 gallons of diesel per day. This would then account for a saving of $8,329.34 per day and $3,040,209.10 annually. Under the energy conservation project consumers are also being advised not to open and close the refrigerator too often; switch off lights and electrical appliances when they are not in use; keep doors and windows closed when air conditioner is on; organise chores or activities to avoid ironing of clothes daily; reduce the number of lights to a switch to reduce lighting in a room; install timers, photo cells or occupancy sensors to reduce the amount of time the lights are on; and use compact fluorescent lamps efficiently.