New interesting Cuban energy conservation program

[jmowreader]

Energy conservation is an important thing, absolutely crucial to the survival of our species.

In America, we have freedom (for now, at least), we have Energy Star, we have compact flourescent light bulbs, we beg and plead with people to save power, and what do they do? Buy bigger Hummers, buy bigger houses, keep on buying old-tech light bulbs because they're cheaper.

Cuba, where there are no freedoms, can approach this in a different way.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/world/content/world/epaper/2006/08/26/m1a_FRIDGES_0826.html

Quick gist: The Cuban government identified its old Soviet and pre-Kennedy American refrigerators as its biggest electricity problem. They've got a point: those refrigerators are tremendous energy wasters, and refrigerators must run all the time. To solve the problem, they ordered enough Chinese-made Haier refrigerators to replace every refrigerator in Cuba, and have ordered every Cuban family to purchase one--quite often by taking out a ten-year loan from a government-owned bank to do so. They even haul off your old refrigerator so you won't be tempted to keep using it.

There's really only one problem with the whole plan, and it's huge: Haier refrigerators aren't reliable. We got a shipment of these back around the first of the year. We still have about half of them--because they were returned after they quit working.

According to the story, the Cubans are excited to be receiving new appliances but they're not thrilled with the fact that the new refrigerators are much smaller than their old ones, and they think the units look flimsy.

[katmondoo]

1. Fluorescent lights give me a bad headache

I had to work as an artist with a company that used only fluorescent lighting and after a few hours my head started to throb, since then I have found using this as the only source of light is impossible

[whistle]

2. A similar problem exists in the U.S. with air conditioners. Most ACs

...produced prior to 2000 are low energy efficient and thus collectively represent a waste of power. Those units produced prior to 1990 are even more inefficient. Many also use the older freon based refrigerants which are harmful to the ozone. The question is how can Americans be motivated to trade up to the more efficient green units? Living in central Florida this is an issue especially during the peak hot weather from mid-May to the end of September.

In January of this year I replaced my 16 year old central AC unit with a high efficiency unit 17 SEER heat pump system. I also added higher R30 insulation to the attic and sealed up obvious air leaks. The results have been dramatic. I have been able to maintain comfortable interior temperatures while at the same time reducing my electrical use by 50% to 60% compared to prior years. At this level, I'll be able to pay back my investment over the next 6 to 7 years on reduced electrical costs alone. However, as the cost of electricity increases (it went up 12% this year alone) the pay-back will be even quicker. If every home-owner, apartment complex, business and office building with 10 year old or older equipment in the hot belt zone of the country were to up-grade to high efficiency AC units, there could be a dramatic impact on lowering overall power consumption.

[CanSocDem]

3. More evidence...

http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/show_cuba.html


Without fertilizer and pesticides, Cubans turned to organic methods. Without fuel and machinery parts, Cubans turned to oxen. Without fuel to transport food, Cubans started to grow food in the cities where it is consumed. Urban gardens were established in vacant lots, school playgrounds, patios and back yards. As a result Cuba created the largest program in sustainable agriculture ever undertaken. By 1999 Cuba's agricultural production had recovered and in some cases reached historic levels.