National Workshop on Nicaraguan Mandatory Technical Standards

Following up on the Procedure of Conformity Assessment promoted by BUN-CA since 2009 in the Central America under the project "Strengthening of Procedures for Conformity Assessment" - with the financial support of CCAD / USAID – the workshop on "Presentation of the Nicaraguan Mandatory Technical Standards in Energy Efficiency", was held with an audience of nearly 100 participants with the objective to present the mandatory technical EE standards to the industrial, commercial and services sectors. These standards establish –for the first time in the Nicaraguan context- the minimum energy efficiency criteria that should prevail when importing and marketing most used electrical equipment.

The workshop was held on 18 February in coordination with the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), the Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade (MIFIC), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA), with the collaboration of the Chamber of Industries of Nicaragua (CADIN), and the Chamber of Commerce of Nicaragua (CACONIC).

Capacity Building in Energy Efficiency in Central America: The Panama Case

With the financial support of the Energy and Environment Partnership with Central America (EEP), BUN-CA and in association with the Finnish firm MOTIVA will shortly start in-country activities of the project "Capacity Building in Energy Efficiency in Central America: The Panama Case" with the aim to further strengthen national capacities regarding development of an engineering-services market for implementing energy audits, in close coordination with the Secretary of Energy and with the Technological University of Panama (UTP).

Energy Efficiency Workshop for tourism businesses of Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua

On February 17th, the workshop "Energy Efficiency aimed at tourism businesses in Nueva Segovia” was conducted, in order to promote the efficient use of electricity in the tourism sector of the Nueva Segovia region, through the implementation of best practices and low-cost investments, aimed at reducing electricity consumption in this sector.

This technical workshop was held in the framework of the alliance between the Hotel “El Pantano”, which is part of the portfolio of SMEs that BUN-CA supports in Nicaragua and with the local support of the Cooperative Development of Tourism in the Segovias -COODETUR-.

Regional Workshop on "Gender Equity and Energy Efficiency"

BUN-CA under the Energy Efficiency Program in the Tourism Sector - PEEST –carried out on March 3rd at the Hotel San Bosco in La Fortuna de San Carlos, the Regional Workshop on "Gender Equity and Energy Efficiency”.

This workshop aimed at sharing experiences and lessons learned on gender equity and energy efficiency. BUN-CA facilitated the participation of Mrs. Bellyni Sigüenza, President of of Small Hotels in El Salvador and Mrs. Sandra Mejia, Chairman of the Association Small Hotels in Nicaragua (HOPEN), who shared their learning experience in the small hotels with the local Association of Small Hoteliers of La Fortuna, AMITUFOR.

International technical experience with Bhutan

In the framework of the South-South Cooperation Program funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and managed by Fundecooperación (Costa Rica), from the 7th to the 20th of February, 2010. Jose Maria Blanco, Regional Director, and Julio Retana, Project Officer, visited the Kingdom of Bhutan to share technical experience in sustainable energy between both countries.

The exchange showed the situation of local projects in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and also programmed working meetings with the counterparts executing the project in Bhutan, the Department of Energy (DoE) / Renewable Energy Division.

Regional Conference: "Energy Efficiency and Electrical Safety - Priorities for America”

The Council for Harmonization of Electro-technical Standards of the Nations of the Americas -CANENA- under the auspices of the Standards Institute Bureau of Costa Rica - INTECO - and BUN-CA -, invites you to participate in the lst. Regional Conference for the priorities and needs for achieving electrical safety in a more energy efficient way. The event will be held in San Jose, Costa Rica from March 9 to 11, 2010. You can find the Conference program and more information on the websites www.bun-ca.org or www.canena.org.

Supplier’s of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Equipment

BUN-CA invites suppliers of energy efficiency and renewable energy services and equipment in Costa Rica, to become part of the Suppliers directory. Please send an email with the information about your company at jretana@bun-ca.org.

International market price of a TON of CO2

On February 28, 2010, a ton of carbon in the international market is priced in Euros € 12.95. More information www.pointcarbon.com

To the 1st of March, 2010, the international price an oil barrell is priced at $ 80, information accessed www.money.cnn.com.