Twenty seven public hospitals across the island are now included in the Energy Efficiency Programme.

The programme, which aims to promote energy conservation in the public sector, is jointly funded by the Government of Jamaica and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), at a cost of US$1.35 million.

"Public hospitals are major consumers of energy in Jamaica, accounting for nine per cent of the energy used by the state," Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, told the House of Representatives recently, during his contribution to the 2007/08 Sectorial Debate.

The projects, which are at various stages of implementation, include: the installation of solar water heaters; upgrading of steam generation and distribution systems; installation of steam steriliser;power factor correction; lighting efficiency improvement; air conditioning system upgrading; and energy audits.