Workshop on Capacity Building in Energy Efficiency: The Case of Panama

Last April, BUN-CA organized in conjunction with international experts from the Finnish firm MOTIVA and the valuable collaboration of several Panamanian institutions such as the National Secretariat of Energy, the Technological University of Panama-UTP, and the National Environmental Authority, ANAM -, the Workshop-Seminar on "Technical Capacity Building for Energy Audits".

This high technical-oriented training, aimed at a Central American level, contributes in improving the technical capacity of electrical and mechanical engineers, responsible for the electrical and mechanical installations in key aspects such as the overall methodology and means of application the energy audit, as a tool to enhance the efficient use of energy in the region. This workshop was carried out through co-financing of the Energy and Environment Partnership in Central America with Finland.

This first workshop was held in Panama City and was attended by 57 representatives of public institutions that under the leadership of the National Secretariat of Energy have initiated a change in the  efficient use of energy in its facilities, including: Technological University of Panama (UTP), National Lottery, Savings Bank, National Bank, Comptroller General, the Electoral Tribunal, the Public Service Authority, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, among other public sector institutions in Panama.

Feedback Workshop with Academic Professors, Managua

With the participation of 25 representatives of the National Engineering University (UNI), the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA), the Nicaraguan-German Training Center (ECNC), La Salle Polytechnic Institute (IPLS), the La Salle University (ULSA), the United Nations Development Programmed (UNDP), the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), the National Institute of Small and Medium Enterprises (INPYME), and the Centre for Cleaner Production (CP+L), BUN-CA in the light of PEER organized in April 28th in the City of Managua the “Feedback Workshop on Energy Efficiency aimed at University Professors”.

BUN-CA, in the framework of the PEER initiative, funded by GEF and implemented by UNDP, is organizing the follow-up with university professors who have been actively participating in these high level academic trainings since 2007 in order to strengthen the future development of  energy efficiency markets throughout Central America.

In this workshop a CD with condensed technical information was given to the participants, in order to strengthen their technical knowledge about academic programs in energy efficiency. It was organized under the auspices of the National Engineering University (UNI).

Workshop "Presentation of the Nicaraguan Mandatory Technical Standards EE”, Nicaragua

BUN-CA in the context of the project "Strengthening of Procedures for Conformity Assessment” and through co-financing of the regional initiative implemented by the CCAD/USAID, conducted last April 29 a workshop on "Presentation of the Nicaraguan Mandatory Technical Standards".

This workshop aimed to present the Technical Standards and define the strategy for establishing Procedures of Conformity Assessment (PCA), for a wide group of stakeholders.

In this event, held at the facilities of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, there was an attendance of 22 representatives from government, equipment importers, academic sector, and had the valuable participation of experts from the National Council for Science and Technology of El Salvador (CONACYT), who shared their extensive knowledge in the issue. This workshop was conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) and the Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade (MIFIC) of the Republic of Nicaragua.

Technical Exchange on Conformity Assessment El Salvador – Nicaragua

On April 30, BUN-CA and CCAD, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided a high-level technical exchange between officials of the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) from El Salvador, with officials from the Ministry of Industry and Trade Promotion (MIFIC) of Nicaragua.

This activity came to share the Salvadoran experience in the development of the Procedures of Conformity Assessment (PCA), and created an environment for the MIFIC to identify opportunities and key issues for developing a proposal for PCA of their own, as a national approach and the possibility to extrapolate this experience to the regional level.

The event was attended by 15 specialists from different agencies of the Government of Nicaragua, including the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Directorate General of Customs, officials of CCAD, CONACYT and BUN-CA.

Hotels in El Salvador and Costa Rica are using renewable energy

In the framework of PEEST program, cofounded by the HIVOS Foundation of the Netherlands, the Hotels Arbol de Fuego y Mariscal  of San Salvador, have introduced the use of solar energy as a resource that has allowed a reduction in their electricity billing through the replacement of electrical systems for heating water by the installation of solar thermal collectors.

Likewise, in Costa Rica, La Fortuna de San Carlos, the Hotels Arenal Volcano Lodge and Rafber, have made the construction of solar clothes dryers, which are helping to reduce electricity consumption in a significant way by using solar energy.

These are important examples of cost-efficient opportunities that are being promoted by BUN-CA on the rational use of energy as a key component of its Regional Strategy for Energy Efficiency.

Installing a water heating system with solar energy

In April, a large solar water heating system was constructed and installed in the slaughterhouse of the Technological Institute of Costa Rica- ITCR-Santa Clara, in the northern part of Costa Rica.

This project will enable the saving of fuel oil currently used for heating water in the cleaning of tripe. Likewise, in the framework of the trilateral project managed by FUNDECOOPERACION, through co-financing from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, this innovative system will serve as a demonstration model for future replication at a national level in many slaughterhouses spread along the country, which use intensively electricity and fuel oil for their processing lines.

Construction of solar collector Clearing of tripe machine

Technical Exchange Mission to Benin

Following-up on the actions of Energy Efficiency in Benin-Bhutan and Costa Rica, a  technical mission is planned to Benin by BUN-CA’s staff from May 20 to June 4, 2010 - for the coordination of activities with program authorities and exchange of technical information on renewable energy and energy efficiency, between Benin and Costa Rica.

Also, this project allows BUN-CA disseminating news about alternative energy in Africa (Benin) and Asia (Bhutan) through its information platform in English, Spanish and French found in http://www.proceree.bun-ca.org.

List of suppliers of in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency equipment and services in Costa Rica

BUN-CA provides the “List of suppliers of in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency equipment and services in Costa Rica” , updated in April 2010. Download List of Consultants.

Under the South-South Cooperation Agreement funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and managed by Fundecooperación

Next training event in La Fortuna

In June 2010 a training workshop is planned in La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica, for Small Hoteliers in the topic of “Best Practices for Monitoring Energy Consumption”.