by Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS)
A newly launched lab will now position Trinidad and Tobago as a Centre of Excellence for testing the energy efficiency of lighting products throughout the region.
On Tuesday 15th November, 2022, the Lab Services Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) launched an Energy Efficiency Lighting Lab (EEL Lab) which promises to provide testing services to ensure the quality of lighting products for Trinidad and Tobago and the wider CARICOM region, while raising the level of energy efficiency awareness.
In August 2020, the EEL Lab was commissioned through the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) and the German Metrology Institute, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), under the “Strengthening of Quality for Sustainable Energy in the Caribbean (QSEC) Project”.
In addition to Government funding, the establishment of the EEL Laboratory was financed through CROSQ and the Ministry of Planning and Development’s Global Environmental Fund (GEF) Project. This funding was used to outfit the lab with updated and modern testing equipment such as an integrating sphere, spectrophotometer, power meter, lamp testing aging rack, standard lamp and AC testing power source.
Delivering the feature address at the launch, Minister of Trade and Industry, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon highlighted the Government’s commitment in reducing Trinidad and Tobago’s carbon footprint through the use of greater energy efficient technology, underscoring the capabilities of EEL Lab in this regard.
“This new Energy Efficiency Lighting Lab is a positive step in this direction, through the implementation of the Testing and Labelling Programme for Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) and Light Emitting Diode Bulbs (LEDs) lighting products. With the establishment of the EEL Laboratory in Trinidad and Tobago, consumers will now benefit from having accurate information to compare brands of CFLs and LEDs. Businesses in Trinidad and Tobago and the region can also have their lighting products tested and verified locally. In the past, lighting products would have to be sent to a country outside of the region to be tested.”
Minister Gopee-Scoon added, “I would like to commend the TTBS for its outstanding work in boosting the Quality Infrastructure in Trinidad and Tobago through the launch of this Lab. This lab will have a transformative impact on the quality of CFLs and LEDs in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean Region, whilst enhancing the competition of these items in foreign market.”
Representing the Ministry of Public Utilities was Permanent Secretary Ms Nicolette Duke, who highlighted the role of the EEL Lab in the Government’s drive towards greater energy efficiency and conservation;
“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, has committed, as part of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, to a 15% reduction of the cumulative emissions from the transportation, power generation and industry sectors by 2030. As you can well imagine, such an ambitious goal requires an all hands-on deck approach.
This Energy Efficiency Lighting Laboratory will be instrumental in testing the efficiency of lighting products. And in doing so, it will facilitate real-life improvements in the standards at which the sector currently operates.”
Mr Deryck Omar, CEO, CROSQ outlined the regional benefits of the new EEL Lab;
“The laboratory and its personnel have benefitted from regional investments in equipment, training, study tours, quality audits, and the creation of procedural handbooks. We can say that we are pleased with the TTBS’s energy efficiency laboratory for lighting and we are confident in its ability to serve the region. Today’s launch of the laboratory puts the region in an even stronger position towards fulfilling commitments made by our nations’ leaders, particularly in recent years, to move collectively towards greater efficiency in the area of EE and to lighten the fossil fuel burden on governments’ spending.”
Also speaking at the launch was TTBS Chairman, Mr Lawford Dupres, who noted that the EEL Lab will bolster the National and Regional Quality Infrastructure (QI) by providing reliable testing services right here in Trinidad and Tobago;
“The services of the “Strengthening of Quality for Sustainable Energy in the Caribbean (QSEC) Project” are geared toward the expansion and enhancement of QI services with the goal of supporting and providing a solid technical base for the use of energy-efficient devices, and the application of technologies for making use of renewable energy sources…The overarching vision of TTBS is to advance Quality for all in Trinidad and Tobago. The Energy Efficiency Lighting Laboratory supports this by fostering the development of a robust QI which should in turn improve the quality of products available to consumers in the region.”
-ENDS- For further information, please contact:
Mr. Kirk Bhajan, PR Assistant, TTBS
Tel: 662-8827 Ext 2266
Email: kirk.bhajan@ttbs.org.tt