Saint Lucia is taking decisive action towards the implementation of a Building Code that will regulate and enforce advanced technological measures while significantly reducing energy wastage.
Key personnel from global and regional agencies, alongside local representatives, convened on Tuesday to launch a vital two-day workshop focused on establishing uniformity and resilience in the region’s building structures.
In his opening remarks, Kurt Harris, Regional Project Team (RPT) CREEBC Revision, firmly emphasized the necessity of minimum standards for a functional building code. He explained that the workshop’s core objective is to review the 2018 CARICOM Regional Energy Efficiency Building Code (CREEBEC) Revision standards, aimed at assessing the energy efficiency of buildings.
Harris underscored the importance of these regulations and communications in empowering the region’s populace. He asserted that buildings must be environmentally friendly, safeguard inhabitants, and reduce the economic costs associated with building maintenance.
“This two-day meeting marks a pivotal moment in our collective commitment to advancing energy efficiency in the built environment across the CARICOM region,” stated Infrastructure Minister Stephenson King during his keynote address.
King acknowledged the contributions of global and regional stakeholders in the formulation of sustainable regulatory standards for the Building Code. He specifically recognized the World Bank (WB) for their ongoing support through the Caribbean Efficient and Green Energy Building project, which is instrumental in facilitating this work.
He declared, “The journey ahead is ambitious, yet essential. Buildings-whether commercial, residential, or public-are among the highest consumers of energy in our regional economy.”
King highlighted that in countries like Saint Lucia, at least 40% of total energy consumption is attributed to buildings, leading to significant implications for economic sustainability, energy security, and, most critically, climate resilience.
The Minister stressed that the region faces severe repercussions from climate change, such as rising temperatures, intensified hurricanes, and elevated sea levels, all of which threaten communities and economic stability.
“It is our responsibility to not only address these challenges but to proactively implement smarter planning, better standards, and more sustainable infrastructure,” asserted King.
He identified four key areas essential for renewing the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for public and commercial buildings, as proposed by Solar Dynamics, a Saint Lucian-based company.
These include: reviewing the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) to adopt an appropriate version for the regional context, updating the Regional Energy Efficiency Building Code based on previous standards, and formulating comprehensive occupation documents to guide implementation across territories.
“Each of these steps is critical, both technically and from a policy and governmental perspective,” he stated emphatically.
Andre Charles, Head of Standards at the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS), reinforced the vital role of SLBS and the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) in tackling these pressing challenges.
“As we confront the realities of climate change, energy security, and sustainable development, enhancing energy efficiency in our building environment is not merely desirable—it is essential,” he declared.
Charles further asserted, “The Building Code we are developing represents a united effort from the entire CARICOM region to create a standard that is both relevant and sustainable for our community and the global environment.”
The gathering also featured impactful speeches from other prominent representatives, including Dr. Sharonmae Smith Walker, CEO/CROSQ, Jason Andelco, Project Manager (Engineer) at the Caribbean Centre of Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), and Alexander Agosti, WB Country Representative for the Eastern Caribbean, who emphasized that energy efficiency is foundational to thriving economies across the region.