BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – OVER the next 10 weeks, more than 323,000 LED bulbs would be distributed to all households around the island as part of a Ministry of Energy and Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation’s (SIDF) initiative to reduce the cost of electricity to consumers.
The initiative is known as the Light Exchange and Distribution (LED) Programme and was officially launched yesterday (Oct. 7) at the Douglas Estate Playfield in the presence of Governor General His Excellency Sir Edmund Lawrence, Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy the Hon. Asim Martin, other Ministry officials, SIDF officials and residents of the Douglas’ and other communities.
Chief Executive Officer of the St. Kitts Electricity Company Ltd. Cartwright Farrell in delivering brief remarks indicated that the cost of LED lights has deterred some but with this initiative that concern has been allayed.
Making comparison between incandescent lights, compact florescent lights (CFL) and LED lights, Cartwright explained that the latter use 20 percent of the energy used to power incandescent lights and last 40 times longer. He said they also use up to eight percent less than the CFLs.
He suggested that if each household replaces six of their 60watt-incandescent bulbs with six 12watt-LED lights and use them for four hours each evening, “your lighting bill per month would be reduced by 80 percent.
He also explained that if 5000 customers use these LED bulbs, a total of 1.5 megawatts of power would be saved which equates to $5,000,000, the cost of a generator of that size.
Deputy Prime Minister Martin said the LED bulbs cost approximately EC$6.8M and in commending the government for its foresight, he informed that there is no other programme of this nature that exists in the region.
SIDF’s Chairman Dr. Hermia Morton-Anthony said the Foundation is committed to and supports this project which forms part of an accelerate march towards full renewable energy.
Prime Minister also addressed the gathering, lauding his Deputy for his insight as the Federation explores the path of renewable energy.
A board was erected near the entrance of the Playfield on which were mounted a set of three incandescent attached to a meter, three CFL bulbs attached to another meter and three LED bulbs attached to another meter. Attendees of the event were welcomed to observe for themselves the amount of electricity needed to power each set and the level of heat which each generated.
A number of bulbs were distributed following the event however, the distribution of bulbs to households would commence on Saturday (Oct. 11) in the Stapleton area, St. Peters.
