Manit Rastogi - Roof & Facade

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