Roy: Businesses need
to conserve energy
PHILIPSBURG--Reviewing current business practices and replacing them with energy-efficient models as a way of conserving fuel is a challenge to the business community made by Energy Affairs Commissioner Roy Marlin.
Speaking recently to St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) members, Marlin said a small island like St. Maarten has no opportunity like larger countries to piggyback ride on nuclear energy systems, large wind parks or production of alternative energy by geothermal sources.
Therefore, with a high fuel cost, which is not projected to go down in the near future, the only way to manage is for businesses to look carefully at their overall operations and, where possible, implement measures that can help reducing the cost of electricity, he pointed out.
“We drive up Front Street and every store has its doors wide open. Sometimes you want to imagine that Front Street is air conditioned. Changes such as implementing automatic sliding doors that would assist in keeping the buildings cool from inside would be an alternative to curb the rising cost of electricity.”
Marlin said, “Installation of energy savings lights instead of high halogen light bulbs can be another alternative. If we don’t start thinking about and applying cost- savings measures the cost for doing business on St. Maarten will continue to rise and eventually this will affect the cost for businesses.”
He explained that wind energy and a waste to energy plant are alternatives. However, these two options when introduced here will only suffice to supply maybe 20% of the total electricity needs. “We will remain dependent on the production of the most important energy source for the island through the use of fuels, whether we like it or not.”
