The Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) is officially the first public sector institution to be recognised as an “Energy Champion”.
During the designation ceremony on Friday, Keisha Reid, Programme Director, Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, explained that the SJPI is one of the beneficiaries under the Public Sector Smart Energy Programme (PSSEP).
The benefits to the SJPI include a 102 kW solar PV system installed on the classroom village, an energy efficiency retrofit scheduled to be completed October 2021, along with a public education and professional strengthening segment.
Reid highlighted that Barbados, through the National Energy Policy 2019-2030, seeks to become the first 100% renewable energy and carbon neutral island state in the world. So far, the government has installed at least 3MW in photovoltaic systems on government buildings and are in the process of making 15 Government agencies more energy efficient.
“The implementation of energy conservation and energy efficiency policies and programmes, as well as the changing of behaviour of the general populace to more sustainable practices is paramount. We are mindful that in order to benefit from change, we must first be aware of the need to change.”
The overall objective of the PSSEP is to promote the use of renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) in the public sector. The main benefits expected from this initiative are reductions in energy cost and reduction in CO2 and GHG emissions. The director also said that the programme is a call to action for every Barbadian to be smart in the use of energy under the tagline #smartenergy2030.
“Our clean energy future will bring economic, environmental and social benefits to the country; however this requires the recruitment of many energy champions. The good news is that everyone can be an energy champion, from the smallest child reminding their parents to turn off the lights, to the technician installing cutting edge technology. Energy champions practise energy efficiency in their daily lives and inspire others to do the same.”
The programme director noted that the launch of the energy champion segment, with SJPI being the first, is a deliberate step by the government to drive home the message of the switch to smart energy as the island transitions to a smarter Barbados.
Principal of the SJPI, Ian Drakes, offered remarks on behalf of the institution, commenting that teamwork is the ability to work together towards a common vision, and the ability to direct individual accomplishments towards organisational objectives.
“Today marks the result of one such partnership, as we witness the unveiling of the Energy Champion Building at the SJPI. This accomplishment is the result of a lucrative intergovernmental partnership aimed at bringing Barbados one-step closer to its goal.”
The principal added that as a training institution, the SJPI believes in leading by example and in keeping with their mission statement, they aim to produce a workforce that is capable of creating, installing and maintaining clean energy initiatives.
Drakes contended that the SJPI has gone to great lengths to follow that statement and has partnered with various entities to ensure that they do their part in the clean energy vision of the government.
“Here at SJPI, rest assured we will not rest on our laurels where the promotion of clean energy is concerned. We will continue not only to talk about the change we would like to see happen, but also be part of the change,” said Drakes.
The total budget of PSSEP is US$24.644 million, with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) contributing USD 17 million and the European Commission USD 7.664 million.
(Photo Listing: The Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship officially recognised The Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology as an Energy Champion Building this past week. (From left) Dr Juan Carlos De La Box Viñas, IDB Representative; Principal of the SJPI Ian Drakes; Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training Santia Bradshaw; Kerry Symmonds, Minister of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship; EU Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska; and Permanent Secretary Andrew Gittens.)