THE first part of an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) supported Energy Efficiency Rating Survey which will show  local businesses how to conserve energy and so  reduce  high costs of production has been successfully completed, President of the Guyana Manufacturers Services Association (GMSA) has reported.

Underlining the importance of this project, President of the GMSA Mr. Mohindra Chand reported last week that during 2012 the manufacturing sector recorded minimal growth,the same as in 2011.
He said that general intelligence showed that business growth has been affected by the influx of foreign goods that retail at significantly lower prices.
High energy costs and the resultant high cost of production of local manufactured goods were however other contributory factors adversely affecting the ability of producers to compete evenly at home or abroad.
He stressed that the GMSA feels strongly about the cost of energy and its impact on the competitiveness of local manufacturers but at the same time believes that energy efficiency is of equal importance. Hence a collaboration with the IDB on an energy efficiency project in which the bank will supply 70% of the funds needed.
According to Chand, this project is intended to  significantly help companies in Guyana which  are suffering because of debilitating energy costs.
He reported that the first Consultant, the Eaton Haughton, a Jamaican renowned around the Caribbean for his extensive knowledge of energy efficiency and audits, successfully conducted the first of the two-part Energy Efficiency Rating Survey.
Mr. Haughton, together with a locally based team headed by the project’s Technical Co-ordinator, Lloyd Rose of Dynamic Engineering Ltd.,  had visited 4 of 5 of the companies serving as project pilots to observe and analyse their installed systems for electricity and water, fuel consumption, air conditioning and other refrigeration and heating systems.
The pilot companies are the Edward B. Beharry Company, National Milling Company, GTM Fire & Life Insurance Company, Brass Aluminium & Cast Iron Foundry, and the Barama Company.
Mr. Haughton , Chand said, returns in January next year  to complete the second leg of the Ratings survey and conduct two workshops focused on measuring and monitoring energy consumption and energy efficiency.
The second leg is an energy audit, which is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2013 and thereafter, a national business model will be rolled out to benefit  most, if not all categories of business, the President of the GMSA disclosed.
The Energy Efficient Project was crafted in 2010 by GMSA to help companies in the manufacturing and services sectors to effectively utilise their applications, with energy conservation being the prime focus. It was subsequently adopted by the IDB which granted its approval in 20011 to fund 70 per cent of the project. The agreement was signed on June 6, 2012.