Around 75 per cent of old buildings in Mauritius are not energy efficient and hence there is a need for energy audits of buildings to improve the standard of energy utilisation.
In line with this, a training course on energy auditing of non-residential buildings in Mauritius was opened on Wednesday.
Present at the function was the minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Dr Rashid Beebeejaun and the minister of Education and Human Resources, Dr Vasant Bunwaree.
“This training course on energy auditing for non-residential buildings is a positive move in preparing our country for the Maurice Ile Durable concept. Ensuring energy efficiency is one way to reduce the amount of energy required for our needs,” said Bunwaree.
This course, which will be dispensed by the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (MITD), aims to equip the participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to conduct energy audits on non-residential buildings.
An energy audit is an inspection, survey and analysis of energy flows for energy conservation in a building. The minister said an energy audit will help identify the amount and the kind of energy that leaves the workplace. He stated that focus should be on efficient use of existing facilities, while in new buildings, focus must be on maximum use of renewable energy and green design.
The Ministry of Education and Human Resources is also trying to ensure that new school buildings are designed accordingly.
“Energy audits will eventually help the population become energy-conscious and at the same time help people save money while paying due regard to the protection of the environment,” said Bunwaree.
The minister also revealed that MITD will very soon embark on a very futuristic project at Ville Noire, Mahebourg, where a green training centre will be set up.
MITD will also be the first organisation be grid-tied with photovoltaic panels that have already been installed at the Knowledge Based Training Centre at Nicolay Road, Port Louis.
The connection with the grid of Central Electricity Board (CEB) is in process. Two new photovoltaic installations will be operational at Ebène soon. One will be grid-tied and one will be stand alone with battery.
To recall, energy efficiency is one of the main preoccupations of the government. The formulation of the Long-Term Energy Strategy 2009-2025 is in line with the government objective to promote sustainable development in the context of the Maurice Ile Durable vision.