ACRE will be used as an education and housing facility for students and scientists,
as well as a demonstration site to educate about biodiversity, solar technology, energy conservation,
rain water collection, composting and organic gardening. The Center will provide accommodations,
indoor and outdoor classrooms and a lab. This will give FRIENDS the capacity to increase educational
programs, host students, scientists and interested persons regionally and internationally. The concept is
to educate, inspire and share innovative solutions by involving visitors in grassroots conservation
programs while they are accommodated in an energy efficient building.
One priority for the Center is to reduce consumption of fossil fuels compared to buildings of similar
size and function. Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Environment have both recently
released statements focusing on the importance of forward thinking energy policies and reducing The
Bahamas dependence on fossil fuels. To accomplish this we will: install a Photovoltaic System; use
Energy Star appliances; install climate control system; install lighting control system and an energy
monitoring software system
These appliances and systems will enable ACRE to create data reports on energy consumption, energy
reduction and the photovoltaic system. The reports will help to indicate energy consumption patterns
to showcase the savings that can be made when reducing our fossil fuel in-take. The ACRE building
will also be grid connected to Bahamas Electrical Corporation (BEC) in order to provide electricity
during peak loads and to avoid using batteries, as The Bahamas has no safe way of disposing of them.
We are working with the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of the Environment to ensure that we are
in compliance with all regulations in order to obtain the waivers necessary to legally operate the
ACRE demonstration site.