Hotels in The Bahamas could make significant savings with new energy efficiency measures, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The IDB has approved a $2-million grant to fund energy efficiency projects in The Bahamas and other countries throughout the Caribbean, including Barbados, Jamaica and Haiti.

The four-year scheme will offer hotels energy audits, focusing in particular on areas such as air conditioning, lighting and water use. The IDB estimates that many small and medium-sized hotels in the region could cut water consumption by as much as 50 per cent and overall energy use by up to 50 per cent.

Under the project, hotels will also be able to generate revenue from the sale of carbon credits. “This will make it easier [to promote] green tourism and market the Caribbean as one of the main ‘low carbon tourism’ destinations,” said IDB project team leader Christiaan Gischler.

The Bahamas has been working with the IDB to implement better energy practices since 2009 under the Sustainable Energy Program for The Bahamas. The programme aims to reduce energy consumption by 30 per cent and derive 30 per cent of its energy from renewable resources by the year 2030.

Energy audits previously conducted by the Bahamas Hotel Association in late 2009-early 2010 show that the country’s hotels, which consume around 40 per cent of the electricity generated nationally, could save up to 53 per cent of their energy costs through more efficient practices.

Download Promoting Sustainable Energy in The Bahamas report here.

cboal@dupuch.com