Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in 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, and 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 made our first research tour to Cuba to learn about their renewable energy plans. Since then 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.

Program Highlights:

• City Tour of Havana and Old Havana with focus on projects in sustainable development
• Site Visits to urban and rural renewable energy installations and energy efficiency projects
• Meetings with engineers from CUBAENERGIA and CUBA SOLAR
• Visit to PAEME, Cuba's vocational-technical high school for renewable energy training
• Overnight visit to rural province
• Small group meetings according to interest
• Cultural activities

Cost: $2500

Price Includes:

• round trip flight from Miami or Cancun to Havana
• Cuban visa
• Three star hotel accommodations
• Two meals per day
• Workshop fee
• Program guides
• Site visits
• In-country translation
• In-country transportation
• Program fees
• Cuban visa
• Price is based on double room accommodations; add $300 for single room
• Price does NOT include airfare to/from Cancun or Miami, beverages, gratuities, travel insurance, personal expenditures, etc.

This delegation is co-organized by Eco Cuba Exchange (a program of Global Exchange Reality Tours) and Solar Energy International**

Eco Cuba Exchange is a program designed to promote environmental interchange between U.S. and Cuban environmentalists. Global Exchange Reality Tours 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 information on the travel logistics for the Cuba Solar delegation, see contact information below.

For more information on Eco Cuba Exchange and on the program for the Cuba Renewable Energy Research Tour, please contact:
Pamela Montanaro or call 510-649-1052.

How to Register:

To register, please send in your application form and a deposit of $400. Your deposit is non-refundable once we have purchased your round trip tickets from Cancun to Havana, unless, for some reason, Global Exchange must cancel the tour, in which case, your deposit is fully refundable. Your full payment is due 45 days before departure. Payments by Mastercard, Visa and Discover are welcome.

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.

We strongly recommend travel insurance for all international travel!

 

Make your reservation online now!

Contact Pamela with any questions about this trip, or call toll-free 1-800-497-1994 .

*We have a 31 day cancellation policy.  Should you cancel any time after the 31 day window period, program fee is non-refundable and non-exchangeable.  However, should Global Exchange cancel the trip due to insufficient participation size, your payment will be refunded.

Global Exchange
2017 Mission Street, 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94110
1-800-497-1994 ext 242 or 415-575-5530
Fax 415-255-7498
leslie@globalexchange.org
www.globalexchange.org

Global Exchange mission
Within a strong framework of socially responsible travel, our delegations inspire individuals to become advocates of social and environmental justice.  Our mission is to help individuals move beyond mainstream media and contextualize complex socio-political issues, while striving to integrate and intimately engage participants with community struggles. We encourage participants to learn from and join movements working towards sustainable and socially just models of development. We hope citizens of the Global North will recognize their own capacity and personal responsibility to impact US foreign policy which ultimately influences social change. For more information, visit www.globalexchange.org

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