THE EDITOR, Sir:
I read with delight a few days ago that energy-saving devices and components are to be more affordable now that the Government has reviewed their tax status. That is great news! Now, I think we can take this discussion to the next level. The following are my suggestions to do just that:
1. The Government should provide meaningful incentives by way of duty concessions for those of us who would like to buy hybrid motor vehicles.
2. Between the Ministry of Energy and the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, a few practical, affordable, easy-to-implement energy-saving and alternative energy systems for domestic applications can be outlined and made available to the general public. For example, systems consisting of combinations of solar heaters, outside solar-powered lights, inverter systems, biogas fuel systems, fluorescent bulbs, etc., can be recommended for households with an average of five persons, covering an average of 1,500-2,000 sq ft.
3. For housing schemes where houses exist in some sort of arranged concentration, it may be feasible to centralise the provision of energy, using solar or wind power for certain specific applications.
We live in a very different world today and we have no choice but to challenge and question the way we have done things in the past. Oil prices are not likely to come down significantly and oil reserves are not infinite. Let us seriously start to do more than car pool and use fluorescent bulbs (although that is a start). It's time for the experts to step forward and present us with practical, innovative alternatives.
I am, etc.,
KELLY McINTOSH
Coopers Hill
St. Andrew
