THE Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) in observance of CARICOM Energy Week on Wednesday held an energy seminar on ‘Energy Efficient Procurement’ at the conference room of the Cara Lodge Hotel in Georgetown. 

CEO of GEA, Chief Executive Officer Dr Mahender Sharma gave the opening remarks and in his impactful presentation focused on the methods of implementing energy efficient appliances and their necessity for companies and organisations.
The presentation aimed at showcasing the importance of energy efficiency in the procurement of appliances consuming energy at various companies.
As every organisation aims at lowering costs, particularly their electricity bills, replacing or phasing out the use of equipment that is not energy effective, is needed to reduce cost. The CEO disclosed the ineffectiveness of Air Conditioning (AC) units that may be too many and too big for buildings in certain organisations and businesses, illustrating that upfront costs for new energy efficient AC units are offset over time from the energy savings through lower energy bills.

SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS
He also illustrated the significant savings companies may obtain if they utilise effective lighting as this can account for a large percentage of their annual electricity bill. He underscored the simple changes such as matching the amount of light to the performed function and replacing incandescent lamps with Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) in addition to choosing appropriate CFLs for different fixtures around the building.
The GEA previously conducted 50 energy assessments of various companies underlining the changes they could implement to become more energy efficient,
Sharma disclosed that the GEA is willing to assess the energy efficiency of public sector buildings and provide technical and educational support when necessary.
The seminar saw representatives from the various Ministries such as Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, Human Services, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Amerindian Affairs and Home Affairs. The Guyana Police Force, the Bank of Guyana, the Cyril Potter College of Education, the Guyana Revenue Authority and GUYSUCO were among others that also sent representatives.
CARICOM Energy Week 2014 is celebrated under the theme ‘Achieving climate, environmental and economic resilience through sustainable energy.’
The GEA also held an Energy Forum yesterday at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, with a focus on sharing information on energy-related issues.