Public Institutions Save More than 8 Million Kilowatt Hours

Public Institutions Save More than 8 Million Kilowatt Hours
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo 06/18/2011

The President of the Energy Commission, Enrique Ramírez, announced that from March to May, the Government saved more than 8 million kilowatt hours of electricity due to the fact that 17 institutions are implementing the Energy Efficiency and Savings Program.

“We have developed a control tool that monitors the changes in consumption of each institution in order to apply the necessary corrective measures recommended by the National Energy Commission, for which a technical team from the Commission is in permanent contact with the Energy Managers,”

Mr. Ramírez explained that, following the implementation of the program, put into effect by Dominican President Leonel Fernández Reyna, this decrease in electricity usage represented a reduction in the electric bills of these institutions and dependencies of the government, between the months of March and May of this year.

In fulfilling President Fernández’s initiative, which seeks to cut electricity consumption in government offices by 10 percent, we have so far appointed 132 energy managers who work in coordination with the National Energy Commission to reach this goal, explained Ramírez, according to the President’s Office of Information, Press and Publicity. Ramírez pointed out that each one of these organizations is using the Energy Management Manual as a reference guide. The manual is being used to orient the energy managers in activities they need to undertake in each institution under their supervision and responsibility.

“We have developed a control tool that monitors the changes in consumption of each institution in order to apply the necessary corrective measures recommended by the National Energy Commission, for which a technical team from the Commission is in permanent contact with the Energy Managers,” indicated the president of the Energy Commission, during a press release in the Orlando Martínez Hall in the National Palace.

Ramírez announced that some of the organizations implementing the Energy Efficiency and Savings Program include the Pension Superintendence, the Santo Domingo Corporation of Aqueducts and Sewer Systems of (CAASD, in Spanish), the Military Assistants Corps, the Navy, the Armed Forces Vocational School, the National Police, the Moca Corporation of Aqueducts and Sewer Systems (CORAAMOCA, in Spanish) and the Technological Institute of the Americas (ITLA, in Spanish).

In addition, the Ministries of Finance, Armed Forces, Education and Foreign Affairs; the General Prosecutors Office of the Republic, the Santiago Corporation of Aqueducts and Sewer Systems (CORAASAN, in Spanish), the State Television and Radio Corporation (CERTV, in Spanish), the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) and the Armed Forces Central Hospital.

He noted that, having taken a survey, they have also been able to evaluate the level of commitment and the conditions the Energy Managers are developing their energy saving activities in each of these organizations.

He said the survey shows that the institutions are beginning to create awareness around the rational use of electrical energy as well as the importance of the Energy Managers. Without a doubt, this reflects a reduction in energy consumption in government organizations.

“In the Energy Efficiency and Savings Program they have also created technical specifications that must comply with building and electrical equipment in the public institutions, with the goal of reducing electricity consumption and therefore, reducing the monthly bill,” according to Ramírez.

He added that they are offering help to institutions with issues related to air conditioning management, correct use of lighting in offices, hallways and other spaces, as well as dealing with water pump equipment.

“We are more than happy with the results that have been obtained so far with this Energy Efficiency and Savings Program and we reiterate our commitment to lower energy consumption by 10 percent in all Government Institutions,” said Ramírez.