Ambassador Diann Black-Layne, Director of the Department of Environment, praised the applicants stating, “The message is that we are really happy to see that persons are understanding that climate change will be impacting them, and they’re willing to step forward. Some of the people applying are many retirees. Many persons who are applying, I know they don’t have that much money. They’re going to have to scrape together money to do it.”

The Department of Environment (DoE), through its Sustainable Island Resource Framework (SIRF) Fund, announced the initiative aimed at increasing the adoption of energy-efficient air conditioning units and hurricane shutters in Antigua and Barbuda just last month.