BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS—The Caribbean tourism sector has taken a major step towards energy efficiency within the hotel industry. The region’s public and private sector tourism groupings, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA)—through its environmental arm, the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST)—have launched a 24-month project to help the Caribbean hotel sector move towards energy efficiency.
The $2 million Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action Program (CHENACT) is meant to drive the Caribbean hotels to implement energy efficient practices and to generate their own renewable energy. This, in turn, is expected to improve their competitiveness through improved energy use.
One of the main components is the design and preparation of the energy efficiency program and institutional strengthening. Using Barbados as a case study, this component involves performing detailed energy audits and understanding energy consumption patterns among Caribbean hotels. Other key components include support for the preparation of policy in energy efficiency for the tourism sector; assessing Caribbean energy service companies and their potential to service the tourism sector; and energy consumption surveys.
IDB Contributing $1 Million
The CHENACT project was conceptualized by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which is contributing $1 million to the budget, with the remainder coming from a number of participating agencies and the government of Barbados. The CTO will be the executing agency, while CAST will implement the project.
“It’s an honor to be involved in such a program which speaks so completely to the mission of the CTO,” said Hugh Riley, the CTO’s acting secretary general, at a signing ceremony at the Barbados Hilton on March 24 to launch the project. We hope as a result (of the project) the region will encourage everyone to increase the use of renewable energy, reduce the use of fossil fuel and increase our competitiveness. It is an excellent example of public and private sector cooperation. I believe the CHENACT will lead to other collaborative projects. It’s the beginning of a journey which will lead us to reduce our carbon foot prints.”
The chairman of CAST, Sir Royston Hopkin described the project as an answer to the region’s high energy costs.
“I am proud to be part of the project, the end result of which will be a solution to the cost of energy,” Sir Royston said. “Both organizations are working together to ensure that the project goes down as a model for us in the region. It will benefit all of us in the region.”
Carbon Credits to be Considered
In seeking its goal of achieving higher energy efficiency, the project will also explore the possibilities of obtaining carbon credits for reduced carbon dioxide emissions through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Synergies have also been constructed within the CHENACT project with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), ensuring compliance among the participants to both the Kyoto Protocol by reducing carbon emissions, and the Montreal Protocol, in relation to the phasing out of ozone depleting substances (ODS) in air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment.
The ultimate goal of this project is to make the CHENACT participants eligible for the Climate Investment Fund (CIF) managed by the World Bank and regional banks such as the IDB for programs that can show transformation towards a low carbon footprint. This fund (approximately $5 billion) could be used for the financing and final implementation of relevant projects.
Other international agencies collaborating with CHTA and CTO on this initiative include:
• The German Technical Cooperation (GTZ);
• The Centre for Development Enterprise (CDE) based in Brussels;
• The Inter American Development Bank (IDB) through the Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative (SECCI); and
• The United Nations Environment Program (UNDP).
For more information on CHENACT, contact Natalie de Caires at natalie@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.
