Cuba plans campaign to retire antiquated refrigerators

July 5, 2000
Web posted at: 8:41 p.m. EDT (0041 GMT)

HAVANA, Cuba (CNN) -- Cubans are famous for their extraordinary ingenuity in keeping pre-revolutionary vintage cars running. The talent, though, is not confined to automobiles.

Cuban authorities calculate there are at least 500,000 old refrigerators still in use. The problem with them all is that they consume four times more energy than modern refrigerators, and they use freon gas, which is damaging the Earth's ozone layer.

That's why authorities here have announced a plan to retire the old refrigerators.

	VIDEO
Havana Bureau Chief Lucia Newman looks at some of the many pre-revolution refrigerators still operating in Cuba Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

CNN Havana Bureau Chief Lucia Newman went visiting some Havana kitchens to get the story of the fossil fridges.

EU proposals aim to reduce electronic waste
June 15, 2000

Money Saver - Recycle Your Old Refrigerator -- and Save

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.