Local businesses are being offered the opportunity to better understand how to conserve energy and reduce their energy costs through a series of lunch and learn sessions organized by the Ministry of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure, as part of the National Energy Policy Initiative.
The sessions officially titled the Energy Efficiency Business Advice Surgeries, the first of which was held on February 26, will provide tools to help businesses analyse their consumption to save energy and money.
Chamber of Commerce CEO, Wil Pineau welcomed the local business participants and Kristen Augustine, National Energy Policy Coordinator, opened the first session.
“We are happy to see that the business community is responding to the National Energy Policy public education efforts. The benefits for local companies are two-fold. Firstly, the direct benefits to local business are clear regarding cost savings and reductions in utility bills. Secondly, these benefits will positively impact the wider Grand Cayman community. The business sector is a large energy consumer and if we are to reach our Islands’ stated energy conservation goals, we must have local companies on board,” Mrs. Augustine said.
CUC’s Manager of Customer Services Mrs. Nichelle Scott presented on how to use CUC’s business tools under the “My CUC” application. These tools allow CUC business customers to track energy usage and determine peak hours in offices and homes.
Mr. Pineau underscored the Chamber’s support for the programme, saying, “Not only is this an important initiative on a national level, but these business advisory sessions also provide a real benefit to Chamber member businesses. Most companies need some help in reducing energy costs, including learning how to go about it. So, we thought it was a good idea to partner with the Ministry and CUC to facilitate this educational opportunity.”
The series of free business advice sessions on how to identify energy cost-saving opportunities and develop energy action plans will continue with three more sessions.
The next business advice session will take place on Friday, 23 April, with subsequent sessions on Friday, 14 May and Friday, 25 June.
To register for the next session, visit: here.
A free, downloadable DIY business audit is available from the Ministry of Commerce Planning and Infrastructures energy website to help businesses prepare for the sessions. The DIY business audit can be downloaded at: here.