ENVIRONMENTAL CONVENTIONS

HEAT - Energy Efficiency - CO2 Reduction in Cuba

CUBA - PROGRAME FOR REDUCING CO2 EMMISIONS

Producing energy-efficient domestic refrigerators

The project's objective is to assist Cuba in the reduction of CO2 emissions consistent with the international efforts in this direction. The project targets priority energy efficiency activities in the refrigeration sector. It is formulated as a framework project comprising engineering assistance, redesign of an energy efficient domestic refrigerator model, technical assistance and training components. The project is designed in full conformity with relevant GEF policies on cost-effectiveness, exports, ownership, retro-active financing, operational costs and financial viability as per requirements of the GEF Operational Strategy. With their high energy demand for refrigerators, Cuban households are contributing to the greenhouse effect.

Cuba has a very warm climate, so there is a considerable demand for refrigeration. Cuba has 2.3 million families and 1.5 million working refrigerators. A vast percentage of the working refrigerators are nearly 40 years old, in need of constant repairs, and very inefficient. The target group of the project is the Cuban household. The project will raise environmental awareness by promoting CFC-free and energy efficient technology, which is what also occurred in Europe, where the promotion of non-ozone depleting technology helped create awareness of the ozone layer. The partner in Cuba for the production of the refrigerators is EINPUD in Santa Clara, the country's only producer of household refrigerators. It was agreed with the Cuban government and EINPUD that with this conversion, hydrocarbon technology would be accepted countrywide as the alternative in phasing out CFCs. From 1963 to 1991, EINPUD was the only producer of refrigerators in Cuba, with an annual production of 45,000 units.