M N BSH Replaces Refrigerators P G+ BEYOND GREEN MAY/JUNE 2009
MANUFAC- In the kitchen, in the home of a family in one of Brazil’s poorest areas, an old refrigerator has been turned into a closet, while the new one is full of vegetables and eggs. This hardly seems the most likely scenario to be starting an article on how a global German company is using the Kyoto Protocol to help protect the climate, but BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH is making a big contribution to climate protection while also making perhaps an even bigger impact on the lives of poor Brazilians. Emissions Reduction As part of a collaborative initiative, a Public Private Partnership, with the Deutsche manufacturer to apply to the UN to have the fridge replacement campaign recognized under — that is an emission-reduction technology for developing countries. The proceeds from the carbon dioxide fridges from the latest generation at a reduced price. The group is thus creating economic, ecological and social value. With its broad-reaching fridge exchange campaign in Brazil’s socially disadvantaged communities BSH is also making a crucial contribution to reducing electricity consumption while contributing to climate protection. As a means of expanding this pilot project, BSH intends to make use of the carbon dioxide (CO 2 Kyoto Protocol. Free of Charge in the Favela The poor communities, or favelas, surrounding the teeming Brazilian city of São Paulo contain hundreds of thousands of ancient fridges. These damaging gases they contain to escape. These high electricity consumption. In conjunction with local electricity supply companies, BSH is exchanging the ‘energy guzzlers’ for new ultra- The utility companies buy the refrigerators from BSH thus meeting their statutory duty to invest part of their sales revenue in improving cooling performance and considerably reduced operating costs, free of charge. The old fridges are collected and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. The energy saved as a result of the reduced energy consumption and the of the old fridges can — unlike chlorinated 2 equivalents under the Kyoto Protocol. Saving Kilowatt Hours The new fridges save an average of around 800 energy mix, this is equivalent to some two to three tonnes of carbon dioxide per appliance over the course of ten years. BSH is intending 2 savings from the UN under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol, and market. The revenue earned in this way enables BSH especially the poorer ones in Brazil’s favelas, can acquire a new refrigerator. The energy utilities are presented with an interesting alternative to investing in new power plants, while the replacement of obsolete fridges mid 2009, BSH had already replaced more than 80,000 fridges. A Personal View Mrs. Maria de Lourdes dos Santos Sousa, is 50 years old and is retired due to disability as she has a bad blood circulation problem in her feet and has varicose veins. She has always lived in the community and is married to Mr. Genival Ramos dos Santos, 47, who works providing general cleaning services in companies. The family’s monthly income is around two minimum wages, that is, around They live in a two storey house with and a bedroom and a bathroom on the lower and have good air circulation. In the living room, there is a TV set, DVD set, telephone, dinner table, and two and three place couches. In addition to those, there are also portraits and a picture with an Orixá (Saint The TV is tuned to cartoons to please their grandchildren. In the kitchen, the old refrigerator has been turned into a closet, while the new one is full of vegetables and eggs. A large table is the place where the family has their meals. On the stove, three pans with lunch are ready to be served. Reduced Electricity Bill Maria de Lourdes had six children, but only four are still alive. She takes care of four of her grandchildren while their parents are at work. The children go to school and she menu, are rice and beans — everyday. But there are also chicken and eggs and plenty of vegetables to help in the grandchildren’s balanced eating habits. Due to the new refrigerator, the family’s electricity bill fell from R$70 and R$80 to R$23/ month. With such economy, Maria de Lourdes is able to always help her grandchildren — something which is a priority for her. She buys the food they like and also help them with school related issues. Although Maria’s home has a TV and DVD player many homes in the favelas cannot G+ BEYOND GREEN 35 MAY/JUNE 2009
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