Retrofit Ms Joy Taylor-Ebanks

The Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency recently provided 10 Cayman Islands homeowners with energy-efficient products as part of its Residential Buildings Energy Efficiency Programme, which is supported by The Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity Programme (RESEMBID).

The RESEMBID programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France,
aims to increase awareness and reduce energy consumption in the residential sector of the Cayman
Islands by improving energy efficiency, facilitating retrofits and installing solar energy for 10 National
Housing Development Trust (NHDT) homes.

RESEMBID team with Ms Taylor-Ebanks

Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister of Sustainability & Climate Resiliency, said: “I am
delighted to see the positive impact our Residential Energy Efficiency Programme is having on
Caymanians. By providing energy-efficient retrofits, we are not only helping residents reduce their
energy costs but also taking significant steps to protect our environment. This initiative is vital for both
the well-being of our people and the sustainability of our beautiful islands.”

The first phase of the programme involved the analysis of NHDT residents through an application
process and the development of selection criteria for 10 homes that formed the basis of the pilot
project.

The criteria were based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, household income,disabilities, and energy usage. Following the selection, structural assessments and extensive energy audits were carried out on each of the homes to inform which retrofits and installations would be
carried out on the homes.

Each of the 10 residences were recently fitted with energy efficient attic insulation with an R-value of
30, energy monitors to help residents keep track of their daily household energy consumption and air
conditioning units with a 20 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating installed in their homes.
Additionally, work is already underway to install solar panels on the homes, which will further reduce
the homeowners’ reliance on electricity and lower their utility bills.

One of the 10 homeowners, retiree Ms. Joy Taylor-Ebanks, said: “I’m ecstatic! I’m over the moon
to be selected to be part of this project and receive these new fittings. I’m gonna be chilling out –
maybe it’s even going to be a little foreign inside there – cool and nice.”

Energy-efficient appliances and products can typically reduce household energy consumption by
nearly two-thirds, and homeowners can save as much as $3,000 on utility bills per year on average by
choosing these products and systems.

“They’re doing a lovely, wonderful thing for the community,” Taylor-Ebanks said of the Ministry’s
programme. “I appreciate them. Big props to them, and I hope we keep in touch so I can tell them how
cool I am!”

Following an open procurement process, the Ministry contracted local businesses Eco House,
Parsons AC, Electra Tech and ProSolar to supply and install the products.
Installation for solar panels is expected to begin in September.

As part of the long-term benefits of the programme, the Ministry will be tracking the energy
consumption of the 10 homeowners for the next 12 months, with the findings shared online for the
benefit of the wider public.

The Ministry aims to launch more initiatives for retrofitting homes in the near future.

This is the second energy efficiency retrofit programme the Ministry has implemented. The Ministry is
also responsible for the Cayman Home Energy Efficiency Retrofit (CHEER) programme which was
launched in July 2023 to all Caymanian homeowners.

For more details on these programmes, visit www.gov.ky/energy.

ABOUT THE CAYMAN ISLANDS MINISTRY OF SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE:

The Ministry of Sustainability & Climate Resiliency (MSCR) was established in 2021 as part of the
Government’s efforts to ensure the continued sustainable development of the Cayman Islands. MSCR
is responsible for the strategic development of programmes and policies that prepare the Cayman
Islands for the complex risks and realities of climate change. Meeting the needs of the present without
compromising future generations through a balanced approach to environmental stewardship, social
development and economic growth.

ABOUT RESEMBID:

RESEMBID is a 47-project programme funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise
France – the development cooperation agency of the Government of France and supports sustainable
human development efforts in 12 Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) – Aruba,
Anguilla, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curaç