Cuba: Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency in Cuba/CUBA SOLAR Conference
“We need an example of what to do when the effects of Peak Oil really hit internationally. Cuba provides us with that. Cuba has already undergone an energy famine.”
-- Richard Heinberg, Post Carbon Institute From the documentary film "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil"
X CUBA SOLAR Conference and Research Tour
April 23 - 27, 2012
Santiago de Cuba
2006 was “The Year of the Energy Revolution” in Cuba. Government Ministries and NGOs like the award-winning Cuba Solar developed a nationwide plan focused on energy efficiency and independence.
- The entire electrical system was upgraded
- Efficient appliances were distributed among the citizenry
- Cadres of young social workers went from house to house in every community teaching energy efficient methods of home maintenance
- Cuba became the first country in the world to completely phase out incandescent light bulbs.
During 2006 - 2007 Cuba saved close to one million tons of imported oil through these measures, and reduced their CO2 emissions by 5 million tons.
It was exactly ten years earlier, in 1996 that Global Exchange and Solar Energy International joined forces to organize our first research tour to Cuba to learn about their renewable energy plans and projects.
Since that time, the pioneering NGO CUBA SOLAR has installed thousands of solar panels on rural schools and family doctor clinics, and maximized their use of the regions in Cuba where wind, water, biomass and biogas resources for energy production are available.
In the last 15 years, numerous new renewable energy departments, agencies, NGO's and organizations have been formed in Cuba:
- CubaEnergia, a department within CITMA, the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment
- PAEME, the Ministry of Education’s Program for Energy Conservation
- Pedagogical University Enrique Jose Varona, a vocational-technical school with a renewable energy/energy efficient curriculum
- Volodia Educational Center, Vocational-technical school for adults and children with special needs that has an excellent curriculum in renewable energy and energy efficiency technology
- Similar schools throughout rural areas of eastern Cuba.
- PV Factory in the province of Pinar del Rio.
Eco Cuba Exchange and Solar Energy International again invite renewable energy professionals and active lay enthusiasts to participate in this exciting April 2011 delegation!This is your chance to see Cuba's remarkable achievements in this crucial field for yourselves!
The fee for this tour will be:
$2600 for research tour and Cuba Solar conference in Santiago de Cuba.
Eco Cuba Exchange is a program designed to promote environmental interchange between U.S. and Cuban environmentalists.
Contact:
Pam Montanaro, Coordinator
or call 510-649-1052.
Solar Energy International (SEI) is a US non-profit organization whose mission is to help others use renewable energy and environmental building technologies through education. SEI teaches individuals from all walks of life how to design, install and maintain renewable energy systems, and how to design and build efficient, sustainable homes. SEI offers trainings online and in 22 locations around the world.
Contact:
Laurie Stone, International Program Director
or call 970-963-8855.
Global Exchange Reality Tours, a licensed Cuba Travel Service Provider, has over 20 years experience arranging Cuba travel for professional, educational, cultural, and “people to people” delegations to research every aspect of Cuban life.
For more information on the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency /Cuba Solar Conference delegation, contact Pam Montanaro, Coordinator, Eco Cuba Exchange or call 510-649-1052.
For articles and videos on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Cuba, as well as general resources on environmental protection and sustainable development in Cuba, click here.
- CUBA SOLAR conference in Santiago de Cuba
- City tour of Santiago de Cuba
- Site Visits to urban and rural renewable energy installations and energy efficiency projects
- City Tour of Havana and Old Havana with focus on projects in sustainable development
- Meetings with engineers from CUBAENERGIA and CUBA SOLAR
- Meet with representatives of PAEME, Cuba's national renewable energy educational program
- Visit Cuba's vocational-technical high schools and colleges for renewable energy training
- Visit CIES, renewable energy research center for renewable energy in Santiago de Cuba
- Small group meetings according to interest
- Cultural activities
- Program Itinerary and CUBA SOLAR Conference schedule to be uploaded soon!
- Round trip flight from Cancun to Havana
- Cuban visa
- Required Cuban health insurance
- CUBA SOLAR Conference fee
- Flight to Santiago de Cuba for Conference
- Double room accommodations (when available); single supplement $300
- Two meals per day
- Program guides
- Site visits
- In-country translation
- In-country transportation
- Program fees
- Price does NOT include airfare to/from Cancun from your home city, beverages, gratuities, travel insurance, personal expenditures, etc
To register, please send in your application form and a deposit of $500. Payments by Mastercard, Visa and Discover are welcome. Deposits for Cuba delegations are non-refundable unless the trip is canceled by Global Exchange as explained below.
Please note: We must meet a minimum number of trip participants on every trip, so please register early!
To ensure that all participants can plan accordingly, the minimum number of participants must be reached within 30 days before departure, or the trip will be canceled. Registered participants can choose to receive a full refund or transfer to a future group. Once a trip is confirmed (reaches the minimum # of participants) registrations may be accepted up to 1 week before departure.
This trip will be as diverse as possible in terms of race, age and life experiences. In some cases, a limited number of partial scholarships are available for low-income applicants.