The Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity (BIMAP) has embarked on a Greening Project to slash its dependence on fossil fuel-generated power by half in two years.
The project also seeks to reduce the wastage of potable water on purposes other than drinking within 24 months, resulting in BIMAP saving eight cubic meters or 2,013.4 gallons of potable water per month.
BIMAP is also moving to become a paperless campus as it embarks on an e-learning platform that will allow for online or blended delivery of courses as well as online registration and payment, thus reducing the need to print countless sheets of paper, it said.
As the project launched Friday at BIMAP’s Wildey campus, Minister of International Business and Industry Ronald Toppin commended its efforts in assisting the country to pursue its own goal of becoming a fossil fuel-free economy by 2030.
Toppin said: “On the national front, I have noted, with keen interest, that BIMAP and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology have agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration in areas of mutual interest; including BIMAP’s embarking on the integration of greening and renewable energy programming, and also in the area of training. This partnership in itself speaks volumes on the synergies which have been happening between government and private training institutions, as collectively we all aspire to one common goal.”
Toppin said the project is also timely against the background of repeated calls at the domestic, regional and international levels for countries “at risk” of severe climate change impacts, like Barbados, to rally together to combat the phenomenon and its adverse effects, and to address countries’ dependence on fossil fuels and non-renewable resources, in keeping with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Like many Small Island Developing States, Barbados possesses many inherent economic, social, and environmental vulnerabilities, including susceptibility to natural disasters, the climate crisis and other extreme events, a small population, limited land and natural resource base and being a small open economy, the minister said.
He said these precarious realities, if further compromised, will undermine not only the gains that have been made in the past, but also the Sustainable Development Goals of the future.
BIMAP Chairman John Rocheford said the business school has been steadily implementing changes toward greening the campus.
Rocheford explained that there has been a significant reduction in the use of paper and ink, with the introduction of the e-learning platform, while LED lights are replacing the incandescent bulbs and the plumbing fittings are being swapped for the more efficient, water-saving devices, and water tanks have also been installed on the compound.
The chairman said the SJPI will be providing the opportunity to train two young women and one man with the photovoltaic panel provider, Solar Watt Systems Inc.
Rocheford said: “BIMAP recognizes that the ratio of males to females in this field is skewed at the moment and that it is important to encourage more females to pursue careers in this field. In addition to incorporating aspects of greening into the curriculum of the diverse course offerings where appropriate, the institute will also be embarking on a public awareness programme, to encourage behavioural change in other organizations and individuals and to inform the lessons learnt from the implementation of the various aspects of the project.
“Several aspects of greening and renewable energy will now be included as modules in courses and our social media pages will be highlighting the importance of moving to alternative, renewable sources of energy.” (AH)
