The first call for the National Prize for Energy Efficiency and the Use of Renewable Energy Sources (FRE) was another action to contribute to reducing the heavy economic burden of external dependence on fossil fuels as a supply for the National Electric Energy System.

On the initiative of the National Office for the Control of the Rational Use of Energy (ONURE), of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), this week stood out for its significant impact on the purpose of stimulating natural or distinguished persons in the use of REFs and the appropriate use of the corresponding carriers.

In exclusive information to the Cuban News Agency, he pointed out that the evaluation of the winners included the scope of their management, indicators, costs, recovery parameters, novelty and innovation, environmental and social footprint, possibilities of generalisation and savings.

The chosen sectors are also very representative for their socio-economic importance: Industrial, Commerce, Services and Tourism. Educational and Health, Private and Residential.

In the first edition of the competition, 21 centres, companies, hotels, small and medium-sized enterprises, and others submitted their files, but the on-site evaluation was characterised by its exigency and only seven were awarded: Havana (3) and one each from the provinces of Mayabeque, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus and Camagüey.

The list of winners included the Ronera San José de San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque; Hotel Meliá Trinidad Península, the Centro de Estudio de Energía y Medio Ambiente, of the University of Cienfuegos; the Centro de Inmunología Molecular, RENOVA S.R.L., and the electronics industry.

In addition, a special mention to the Botanical Garden of Havana and its Quinta de los Molinos, from the National Award for Energy Efficiency and the Use of Renewable Energy Sources (FRE), whose promoters assure that it is here to stay.