News Releases

Energy Audit

For Release Upon Receipt - March 1, 2010

Cave Hill


A national leader in green technologies and a clean energy champion.

That’s the profile The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus aims to project as it seeks to ensure its internationally-competitive curriculum is delivered within a cost-efficient, environmentally conscious, world-class teaching and learning environment.

 Less than a year after the campus’ Green Team embarked on a major recycling initiative as an important step towards transforming the university into a green enterprise, an Energy Team is accelerating the process by striving for greater cost efficiency through enhanced energy conservation and increased use of alternative energy.

 The cost efficiency initiatives are being guided by an energy audit that has put forward a number of recommendations to lower operational cost. Among the suggestions are enhanced adopting of energy saving practices across the university and a comprehensive retrofitting of all equipment which currently contributes to high energy usage or wastage.

The audit, conducted in 2009, discovered that although energy consumption across the campus’ burgeoning plant grew by a modest 8 per cent average in the three year period 2006-2008, the annual cost of running the operation rose by about 65 per cent with fuel charges driving the hike. As a result, Cave Hill’s energy bill climbed towards $5 million in 2008, up from $3.2 million in 2007 and $2.8 million in 2006 (figures VAT exclusive).

From 2006 to 2007 the electricity cost increased by 14.53% and from 2007 to 2008 it increased by 44.33%. An increased number of students and services have added to the higher costs, as has added infrastructural development. With a new administration building about to become functional, a recently opened medical sciences complex, and construction earmarked for a new School of Business and stadium at Paradise Park, it is feared that energy cost across the entire property could further escalate in the near future, if left unchecked.

Former Deputy Principal of Cave Hill Professor Leo Moseley who has the remit of making Cave Hill a greener and leaner institution, and who heads the campus’ 11-member Renewable Energy Group says the comprehensive energy audit was instituted with the aim of identifying

•         consumption patterns,

•         the use of energy efficient equipment, and

•         the establishment of an effective energy management and monitoring system to measure, supervise and control energy consumption.

He supports the recommendations of the audit for a package of remedial measures estimated to cost $2.6 million to implement but which are projected to yield nearly $1 million in savings annually, an investment which is recoverable within three years. More than half the cost to implement the corrective measures would address the air conditioning system with other major spending on lighting, room management and office equipment.

Moseley, a Professor of Physics with a longstanding interest in alternative (non-fossil) energy technologies, noted that Cave Hill’s involvement in renewable energy and energy efficiency adheres to both the national objectives of the Barbados Government and the World Bank supported and documented strategies for boosting energy security and economic development. He said these “no-regret” measures lead to reduced expenditures for households, businesses and organisations.

In addition, he pointed out, the Government of Barbados in its most recent National Energy Policy has included in its Policy Initiatives a number of measures which can significantly benefit those pursuing alternative energy. These include:

Ø      Modification of the electric utility law to allow sale of electricity into the grid.

Ø      Creation of a tax instrument that allows accelerated depreciation on RE and energy efficient equipment

Ø      Continuation of duty waivers on renewable products and a zero rated VAT on solar electric systems.

“Not only does UWI endorse the Government’s objective; it also sees part of its civic responsibility as being a driver and promoter of renewable energy and energy efficiency throughout this country and the region,” Moseley said.

“As Deputy Principal (2005-2008) following on my stint as Dean of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, it was clear to me that the campus needed to know objectively what it was spending on energy. This was supported by the principal, registrar and then bursar culminating in our issuing a contract for a consultant to carry out the energy audit.”

According to the audit, air conditioning and electrical equipment were the two major contributors to campus’ overall energy usage. In this regard, Moseley believes that any energy management plan should, in addition to retrofitting and other plant-related measures, also seek to elevate awareness of energy conservation by educating staff and students.

He explained that the operation of a/c systems in a clear-glass environment reduced their cooling effectiveness and suggested that the tinting of such glass could go a long way towards improving efficiency, hence lowering consumption and cost. Additionally, he noted that automated features (timers) might be introduced to control the use of energy especially in unoccupied buildings and that special attention be paid to lighting fixtures and other electricals, building design and location as well as other factors which impact on energy usage. He also recommended that attention be paid to possible use of solar and wind technologies where appropriate and affordable, and that water storage tanks in existence beneath ten of the major campus buildings be used for irrigation.

Moseley estimates that Cave Hill could cut its energy consumption by about one-fifth thus effecting significant financial savings from reduced energy cost and reduced maintenance requirement.

A summary of the overall recommendations reads:

•         Properly configure energy saving capabilities where available

•         Check specific configuration data and instructions on all devices and implement to automate the energy saving capabilities

•         Rationalize equipment while maintaining its functionality

•         Procure the most efficient equipment

•         Mobilize staff support for all and any energy saving efforts

•         Provide services only where and when needed

•         Train general office staff on energy awareness and implement good practices to reduce wastage such as turning off devices that are not in use.

Among the expected summarized benefits are:

•         Reduced energy consumption

•         Extended equipment lifespan

•         Reduced maintenance costs

•         Improved processes through staff involvement

•         Monetary savings

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