The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) hosted an awareness session on ‘Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in the Workplace’ with members of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA), on Wednesday, in New Amsterdam, Region Six.
The session focused on the importance of businesses harnessing renewable energy and adopting energy-efficient and conservation practices to reduce their carbon footprints and save money on daily operations. The topics covered during the session included the fundamentals of energy efficiency in a workplace, optimizing energy use through measures such as selecting efficient lighting, smart office equipment, along with inverter air conditioning (AC) units, as well as installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and increasing electric mobility in Guyana.
Chief Executive Officer of the GEA, Dr. Mahender Sharma, underscored the Agency’s commitment to promoting sustainable energy development in Guyana, notably through public awareness on the practices that lead to conserving energy.
Dr. Sharma highlighted the impacts of energy efficiency, energy conservation, and electric mobility for commercial and industrial sectors, especially with Guyana’s rapid expansion of renewable energy. He positioned these three factors as essential pillars for achieving sustainable and successful businesses. This approach, aligned with the Low Carbon Development Strategy (2030), will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen energy security, and contribute to economic growth.
Senior Energy Engineer at the GEA, Brian Constantine, demonstrated the advantages of solar energy by explaining how businesses can benefit from solar installations and the grid-connected solar PV systems to power daily operations and charge electric vehicles (EVs). To encourage reduced energy consumption in the future, the GEA also introduced the Energy Champions initiative at the BCCDA, which will establish a system where an assigned person or team will be responsible for driving efforts to save energy and safeguard against energy waste. This initiative will be monitored by the GEA. The awareness session is part of the GEA’s ongoing energy efficiency public campaign, which aims to encourage energy-saving actions in both businesses and homes, promote renewable energy development, and foster a culture of sustainability in Guyana.
