BSJ's Energy Standards for Imported Electrical Appliances - Why a Ban on Light Bulbs may lead to Chinese Manufacturing in Jamaica

“We are moving to the next phase by dealing with our lighting. Over 100,000 lighting fixtures will be replaced shortly, and over 5,000 air conditioning systems will be dealt with, making them far more efficient and effective”  

Minister of Science, Technology Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell announcing BSJ Proposal for Energy Standards for Imported Appliances during an address at the UWI (University of the West Indies) public Forum on Wednesday January 14^th 2015

Today I made an incredible discovery; apparently Jamaica has had no fixed Energy Standards for Imported Appliances set by the BSJ (Bureau of Standards Jamaica).

All that is set to change as a proposal by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) to set the minimum standards for power consumption for Imported appliances was submitted to Cabinet by Minister of Science, Technology Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell on Monday January 12^th 2015 as reported in the article “Gov't wants energy standards for imported appliances”, published Monday, January 19, 2015, The Jamaica Observer .

Minister Paulwell has now confirmed on Wednesday January 14^th 2015 that the BSJ's proposal was accepted by Cabinet. Son and very soon, Imported Electrical Appliances from China and Mexico that aren’t complaint with the BSJ’s Energy Standards can be banned from importation into Jamaica.

He made this announcement during an address at the UWI (University of the West Indies) public forum entitled “The New Caribbean Energy Professional for the New Energy Paradigm” at the Mona campus in St. Andrew as per the report by the GOJ (Government of Jamaica) Horse's Mouth, the JIS (Jamaica Information Service) in their article “Energy Standards To Be Set For Imported Appliances By BSJ”, published January 16, 2015 By Douglas McIntosh, the Jamaica Information Service.

Good to not he didn’t name the countries; I did that, being as many of our imported gadgets come from one of those countries albeit our taste in Imported food is First and Developed World, as noted in my blog article entitled “Jamaica's Basic Item Food Bill mostly from 1st World Countries - Buy Jamaican Build Jamaica made from Imported Raw Materials in containers that says Made in Jamaica”.

He also touched on the ongoing initial implementation of the US$20 million IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) EECP (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Project) that was yielding some impressive results, with a savings potential of up to JA$4 billion.

Hopefully it'll reduce the GOJ's Ministerial and Executive Agency Energy Bill, as they owe the JPS Co (Jamaica Public Service Company) millions of Dollars, especially from Streetlights and Schools as noted in the article “Thwaites Says Gov't Working To Clear $150 Million Light Bill Owed By Schools”, Published Thursday July 17, 2014 1:38 pm by Karlene Brown, Assistant News Editor, The Jamaica Gleaner.

BSJ and Energy Standards for Imported Electrical Appliances - Ban on Light Bulbs and Chinese Manufacturing in Jamaica

It's about time something was done about this, as part of what pushing up Jamaica's Energy Bill is the importation of items from China that barely pass the BSJ's Standards but also are not energy efficient in their usage of electricity. The attitude of Jamaicans to Energy Efficiency is non-existent, as many fail to see the point of Energy saving products such as LED Lights on their overall Electricity Bill.

This as Light bulbs in a typical house are only turned on at night; the real power consumers are those device that we use for extended stretches of time, such a Computer, Refrigerators, Irons and Washing Machines as pointed out in my Energy Savings tips blog article entitled “DIY Alternative Energy - How to make a portable Refrigerator and Simple tips to reduce your house's Electricity Bill are the 2 Guns you need”.

Most, if not all of them, are imports from the Far East, making them perfect targets for BSJ Regulations on Power Consumption.

With this new legislation, the GOJ would now have a reason to ban the importation of certain Appliances in favour of more energy efficient ones., Granted this might result in more expensive item being imported, but at the same time it would help to reduce their Electricity Bills and thus our level of Oil Importation into Jamaica.

Along with these new powers, which Cabinet has to approve, they'll also ban the importation of Incandescent and Fluorescent Light bulbs with assistance from the Cuban Government as per my blog article entitled “Minister Paulwell revives Cuban Light Bulb Program - How to Ban Incandescent Bulbs and focus on production of LED Bulbs in Jamaica”.

It'll also push Jamaica toward the production and export of LED (Light Emitting Diode) Bulbs, once we get back on track with the extraction of Rare Earth Metals from RDA (Refuse Disposal Area) Mud from the Bauxite Industry as per my prediction in my blog article entitled “US$600 million later Japan’s Nippon Light Metals shelves Jamaica Rare Earth Test Pilot Plant - Cheaper Electricity needed as FDI’s want in Copper and Gold” .

Even better, it may lead to the revival of our Appliance manufacturing Sector, as not only can we make a business from repairing these faulty appliances, but deal can be struck with Chinese manufacturers to have their Appliances manufactured in Jamaica via China investing directly in Jamaican manufacturing.