EFFICIENT CHARCOAL STOVES
In many countries, the ability for people to access of cleaner burning energy technologies for cooking can be difficult, if not impossible. In those areas where cleaner fuels can be accessed, the cost of such technologies can be very expensive and comprise a large percentage of a family’s income. Therefore, often the best solution for many people is to cook with charcoal.
Burning charcoal for cooking has many disadvantages. Charcoal production is seldom an efficient process using a tremendous amount of wood, and therefore deforestation is a major negative impact. In addition, the burning of charcoal leads to carbon dioxide emissions. There are also health consequences. Often the charcoal is burned inside in a confined space with little ventilation, which results in respiratory and other health problems, primarily for women and children who do most of the household cooking. For example, in Tanzania the government estimates that the city of Dar es Salaam consumes approximately 500,000 tonnes of charcoal a year, resulting in the destruction of over 4000 sq kms of forest cover annually.
The distribution of efficient charcoal stoves, which can burn up to 50% less charcoal than traditional charcoal stoves, reduces the consumption of charcoal, and therefore deforestation rates, as well as limits other negative impacts of burning charcoal for cooking.
For project examples of efficient charcoal stoves in the field, review the following project links.
Efficient Charcoal Stove Projects
Accra, Ghana, Phase 1
Countryside Orphanage, Bawjiase, Ghana, February, May & October 2010
Accra, Ghana, Phase 2
Accra, Ghana, Phase 3