Municipal Energy Efficiency
Water supply shortage is a critical issue for Sri Lankan municipalities as they face the pressures of an increasing population, a rising per capita demand for clean water, and increasing power tariffs. The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) operates more than 275 pumping stations across the entire island nation. It spends a significant proportion of its resources paying for the energy to operate water and sewage treatment systems. Tremendous opportunities exist for energy and water savings in municipal water supply operations through the implementation of simple, low-cost energy efficiency measures. Although NWSDB represents a potentially fertile market for energy efficiency companies, the Water Board is presently underserved by the energy efficiency industry, partially due to an undeveloped energy service industry.
The dual objectives of this program are to reduce energy consumption in municipal applications, thereby increasing financial sustainability and reducing environmental impacts, and to build the capacity of municipal institutions and water boards to improve the delivery of water to households, especially the urban poor. This effort is centered on partnerships with the City of Colombo, NWSDB, and private technical consultants.
Tourism Sector Energy Efficiency
The tourism sector is the third largest revenue earner in Sri Lanka, after the tea production and garment manufacturing sectors. Due to prevailing political conditions in Sri Lanka, the island was not a popular tourist destination for several years. International tourism to Sri Lanka has picked up only after the beginning of the new millennium. The financial situation of hotels on the island has not allowed for modernization and refurbishment at a rapid pace, and energy efficiency has not been a concept widely understood by hotels, although the electric utility has increased power tariffs and hotels are now struggling with increased costs. To operate successfully and to gain financial stability, hotels are now recognizing the urgent need to become energy efficient, and to benchmark their performance in water and energy use.
The Alliance has focused its program on creating awareness of energy efficiency opportunities and best practices in the Sri Lankan tourism industry, primarily by building the capacity of Sri Lankan hotels to become energy efficient. The program has taken on new significance with the reconstruction efforts following the recent tsunami, as many hotels prepare for a new beginning. Since August 2003, the Alliance has partnered with the Tourism Cluster to reach out to the Sri Lankan hotel sector. The Tourism Cluster was formed in mid-2000 under The Competitive Initiative (TCI), funded by USAID. The Tourism Cluster initially comprised of three industry associations – Hoteliers, Travel Agents and In-bound Tour operators and over time also included the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and Sri Lankan Airlines, and various other organizations. Alliance activities include the coordination of educational and technical seminars, as well as the promotion of energy and environmental benchmarking software for Sri Lankan hotels and resorts to benchmark their energy use and compare with their peers in the industry.
More information on the Alliance Watergy program in Sri Lanka.
More information on the Alliance Energy Efficiency Industry Partnership program.
