Project Partner: Trees, Water, People
Background
Background
The traditional open wood stove provides a vital source of heat and energy for some of the poorest communities across the world. Yet these stoves can have a devastating impact on the health of the women and children who gather around them – and the local forests which are harvested for fuel. In Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, over half of the homes rely on these stoves. Doctors have identified 97 distinct health problems caused or exacerbated by stove smoke – such as asthma, bronchitis and blocked tear ducts. UN studies show that smoky stoves kill millions - mainly women and small children - and cause debilitating illness for tens of millions more.
The Project
Trees, Water, People (TWP) and the Honduran Association for Development (ADHESA) are now bringing clean stoves to people in the city through the innovative Micro-Enterprise Stove Project. TWP has developed a series of stoves based on the “Rocket” principle. This means
that ample air is drawn into the combustion chamber leading to a very clean burn.
A crucial benefit of this is that smoke from the stove is drastically reduced. Dona Justa, who was instrumental in the design of a new stove in her own community keeps one of her old blackened pots in her kitchen to show people, and is reported to have said: "If that is what my pot is like, what must my lungs have been like?"
TWP are keen to move from installing a few stoves on a subsidised basis to market commercialisation. Climate Care’s support has provided TWP with a fund from which their customers can borrow to purchase their stoves. Owners can afford to repay the loans as their full bills are cut by 50%. As the money is repaid it can be “recycled” by the fund and used again for more stoves. This micro finance model is a powerful tool for the long term dissemination of sustainable technologies.
Climate Care’s Involvement
Climate Care committed to funding this project in May 2005 through the Ashden Awards and initial funding will last for a two year period. Some of the funds will be used for management of the project through local NGOs. A proportion will also be used as a “revolving fund” to give local families access to the monies they need to purchase the stoves. The loans are on preferential rates and will be paid back from the savings they make in fuel.
Monitoring
We are in the process of appointing an expert to carry out a survey of the amount of fuel saved in this project. This is likely to be researchers from the University of Illinois, who are experts in the area. Tests in the field and laboratory show that the stoves save between 1 and 1.5 tonnes of CO2 each a year by reducing unsustainable deforestation and improving the combustion efficiency.
The Project
Trees, Water, People (TWP) and the Honduran Association for Development (ADHESA) are now bringing clean stoves to people in the city through the innovative Micro-Enterprise Stove Project. TWP has developed a series of stoves based on the “Rocket” principle. This means
that ample air is drawn into the combustion chamber leading to a very clean burn.A crucial benefit of this is that smoke from the stove is drastically reduced. Dona Justa, who was instrumental in the design of a new stove in her own community keeps one of her old blackened pots in her kitchen to show people, and is reported to have said: "If that is what my pot is like, what must my lungs have been like?"
TWP are keen to move from installing a few stoves on a subsidised basis to market commercialisation. Climate Care’s support has provided TWP with a fund from which their customers can borrow to purchase their stoves. Owners can afford to repay the loans as their full bills are cut by 50%. As the money is repaid it can be “recycled” by the fund and used again for more stoves. This micro finance model is a powerful tool for the long term dissemination of sustainable technologies.
Climate Care’s Involvement
Climate Care committed to funding this project in May 2005 through the Ashden Awards and initial funding will last for a two year period. Some of the funds will be used for management of the project through local NGOs. A proportion will also be used as a “revolving fund” to give local families access to the monies they need to purchase the stoves. The loans are on preferential rates and will be paid back from the savings they make in fuel.
Monitoring
We are in the process of appointing an expert to carry out a survey of the amount of fuel saved in this project. This is likely to be researchers from the University of Illinois, who are experts in the area. Tests in the field and laboratory show that the stoves save between 1 and 1.5 tonnes of CO2 each a year by reducing unsustainable deforestation and improving the combustion efficiency.
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