Energy Efficiency in Saint Lucia

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Energy Efficiency in Saint Lucia

• Cassidy DeMos, Lena Forman, Abby Kerin, Meryl
  Klein, Travis Reynolds, Alanna Toner

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Overview

• Project Goals
• Objectives
• Previous Work
• Hypotheses
• Methods
• Results
• PSA
• Recommendations

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Project Goals

• To reduce energy consumption in St. Lucia through
  the promotion of energy efficient practices
  
• Economic
• Environmental

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Objectives

• Engage in consumer research
• Survey
• Promote energy-saver light bulbs through cost
  subsidization
  
• Coupon Distribution
• Promote energy-saver light bulbs through consumer
  education
  
• Public Service Announcement (PSA)

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Survey Background

• 263 surveys gathered in 2006
• Price respondents were
• willing to pay was EC5
• Barriers to purchasing
• energy-saver bulbs

Reynolds, T., Murray, B., Neil, H. (2006b).
Energy Efficiency in Saint Lucia Final Report.
CDAE 195 Final Report University of Vermont.
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Hypotheses

• H1 As education levels increase there will be a
  higher self-reported willingness to pay for
  energy-saver bulbs
  
• H2 As knowledge of energy efficiency increases,
  it will lead to a higher self-reported
  willingness to pay
  
• H3 As price of energy-saver bulbs is reduced
  through coupons the number of energy-saver bulbs
  purchased by Saint Lucian consumers will increase

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Survey Methods

• 4 January 10 January
• Castries, Rodney Bay, Soufriere, Vieux Fort
• 530 consumer surveys
• Personal interviews
• Intercept surveys

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H1 Results Education vs Willingness-to-Pay

• On average consumers only want to pay EC11
  regardless of education
  
• Those with no education were only willing to pay
  an average of EC7.50

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H2 Results Knowledge vs Willingness to Pay

• People familiar with energy efficiency were on
  average willing to pay EC1.50 more for
  energy-saver bulbs than those who were not
  familiar (P-value 0.033)

Increased income was not associated with
increased willingness to pay

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H3 Bulb price vs purchasing patterns
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Survey Results Barriers to Bulb Purchase
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Coupon Distribution

• URECA Grant
• Distributed with surveys
• Discounts of 10, 25, 50, 75, 90 off
• Free bulbs

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Coupon Distribution Results

• Preliminary results
• 23 redeemed
• 8 90 off
• 6 75 off
• 7 50 off
• 1 25 off
• 1 10 off

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Conclusions

• Consumers are generally positive toward
  energy-saver bulbs
  
• Consumers are generally not aware of energy
  efficient appliances
  
• Education is positively related to a consumers
  willingness to pay more for energy-saver bulbs
  
• Increased knowledge about energy efficiency leads
  to a willingness to pay more for energy-saver
  bulbs
  
• Income does not effect consumers willingness to
  pay
  
• Subsidies to decrease price
• Increase education

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Public Service Announcement (PSA)
Lindsley Philbert Electrical Engineer
Local consumer answering survey questions
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• I purchased four energy-saver bulbs and I saw a
  big decrease in my electricity bill.
  
• - Castries resident

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• 95,000 tons of oil were imported at a cost of 25
  million
  
• 30 used to generate electricity¹
• Domestic consumption of electricity was 35.7
• 3.2 increase from 2004²

¹ Ministry of Physical Development, Environment,
and Housing May 2003. Saint Lucia Energy Sector
Policy and Strategy. ² Ministry of Finance Intern
ational Financial Services and Economic Affairs
2006. 2005 Economic and Social Review.
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Policy Recommendations

• Increased Energy Week Publicity
• School Programs
• Reduce/eliminate duties and taxes on energy
  efficient products
  
• Subsidize prices of energy efficient products

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Future Recommendations

• Educational workshops with Saint Lucian
  residents
  
• Analysis of available energy efficient appliances
  and consumers knowledge of them

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Project Partners

• Philip McClauren Ministry of Consumer Affairs
• John Worrell St. Louis Ministry of Agriculture
  Forestry
  
• Guillaume Simon Ministry of Consumer Affairs
• Fabian Jules Ministry of Agriculture
  Forestry
  

• Lindsley Philbert
• Sir Arthur Lewis Community College
• Johnsons Hardware (Castries Rodney Bay)
• DuBoulays Building Supply (Soufriere)
• Builders Choice Limited (Vieux Fort)

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Any Questions?