As Guyana continues to expand its housing programme, Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal is encouraging homeowners and developers to place greater emphasis on energy-efficient construction to lower electricity costs and improve sustainability.
Speaking during a seminar hosted by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) at the International Building Expo 2026 on Saturday, Croal said building a home should involve more than just putting up a structure.
“When you are building your home, you have to look at energy efficiency,” the minister said, noting that building materials, design, regulations and other construction choices all play a role in creating sustainable homes.With thousands of house lots being allocated across the country, Croal said there is a growing need for homeowners, contractors and businesses to adopt smarter building practices.
Also addressing the seminar, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Dr Mahendra Sharma, said lower electricity costs alone will not guarantee savings unless consumers also change how they use energy.
He encouraged simple measures such as turning off unused lights, using energy-efficient appliances and incorporating features like proper ventilation, insulation, roof materials and shading into building designs to reduce cooling costs.
Dr Sharma noted that air conditioning is one of the largest contributors to electricity consumption and warned that setting units at very low temperatures leads to higher energy use.
He also promoted the use of grid-connected solar systems, saying they can significantly reduce electricity bills while allowing homes and businesses to remain connected to the national grid.
Sharing his own experience, Sharma said investing in additional solar capacity and battery storage dramatically reduced his monthly electricity costs.“My electricity bill has moved from above $80,000 a month to $14,000 a month,” he said.
He added that government incentives remain available for energy-efficient investments, including tax exemptions on solar panels, batteries and inverters, while businesses can also benefit from a 50 per cent write-down allowance on qualifying technologies.
