Jamaica has one of the highest energy intensity rates in Latin America and the Caribbean and is almost totally dependent on imported oil, accounting for over 90% of its total energy use. The total cost of imported oil to Jamaica increased from US$344 million in 1998 to approximately US$1.84 billion in 2006. In 1998 the average price of crude oil was US$14.17 per bbl and by 2007 the price has risen to over US$90 per bbl.
This scenario threatens long term economic stability, and it is therefore necessary to exploit energy efficiency and conservation opportunities in the residential, commercial, industrial and public sectors of the economy. This highlights the initiatives which will be undertaken by PCJ in the five-year period, 2008 – 2013, to address the issues of energy efficiency and conservation within the public sector and part of the private sector. The basic strategy will be to:
- Implement energy audit recommendations in entities such as hospitals and schools for which energy audits have been done
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Carry out energy audits in other entities such as the National Water Commission
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Continue and enhance the public education programme on energy efficiency and conservation
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Carry out energy audits in a sample of hotels and encourage hotel owners to implement energy efficiency measures
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