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29 pages, 2812 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Future Scenarios of Firewood Consumption for Cooking in the Mexican Tropical Region

by Guadalupe Pérez, Genice K. Grande-Acosta, Jorge M. Islas-Samperio and Fabio Manzini

Energies 2023, 16(22), 7492; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16227492 - 8 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1742

Within domestic food cooking, burning firewood in three-stone fires (TSF) is a common practice by more than 16 million users in the Mexican tropical climate region (CR-TR). This article aims to evaluate the implementation of improved firewood cookstoves (ICS) to replace TSF in the CR-TR by constructing firewood consumption scenarios covering 2018–2050. The results show that in CR-TR, with the implementation of ICS, the consumption of 354.95 PJ of firewood, 36.6 Mt of CO_2e, 1.29 Mt of CO, and 163.78 kt of PM_2.5 can all be avoided. The most important reduction in firewood consumption, CO_2e emissions and CO and PM_2.5 pollutants, occurs in exclusive firewood users and mixed users who utilize firewood as the primary fuel source, both of whom are low socioeconomic level in rural areas. Furthermore, most paying-for-firewood users often show negative mitigation costs and a high 50% IRR, while all non-paying-for-firewood users have mitigation costs ranging from 7.74 to 41.23 USD/tCO_2e. At the end of the results section, we perform a sensitivity analysis of the relevant parameters, which complements this study. Therefore, implementing ICS will contribute to the solution of climate change, deforestation, and facilitate the formulation of sustainable development policies for the most vulnerable population sector of the Mexican CR-TR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Renewable Energy Utilization and Electrification II)

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18 pages, 1055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

TIME to Change: An Evaluation of Practical Action Nepal’s Results Based Finance Program

by Benjamin L. Robinson, Mike J. Clifford and Sarah Jewitt

Energies 2021, 14(10), 2891; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14102891 - 17 May 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3205

Abstract

Set against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7, and the need to increase biomass Improved Cookstove (ICS) adoption and sustained use across the globe, this paper presents an evaluation of Practical Action Nepal’s (PAN) Results Based Financing for Improved Cookstove Market Development in Nepal (RBF) project, which was conducted between January and April 2020. Nepal has a long history of International Development assistance, yet 65.8% of rural households still use firewood as their primary source of energy. With this in mind we aimed to understand the barriers, enablers and engagement strategies for the adoption and sustained use of Improved Cookstoves (ICS), map key stakeholder role perceptions and interactions, and identify areas for improvement to increase the sustained use of ICS in the focus communities. This paper uses the methodological approach from the qualitative Technology Implementation Model for Energy (TIME) for the data collection and analysis elements. Our core results show a direct need for improved communication between all key stakeholder groups, the impact of demand and supply side financial incentives in creating reputational risk for community-based key stakeholders, and how the RBF mechanism promotes initial end-user adoption but not sustained use of ICS due to a focus on immediate results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clean Energy Innovations: Challenges and Strategies for Low and Middle Income Countries)

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12 pages, 15301 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using Design Thinking to Improve Cook Stoves Development in Mexico

by Elena Ferriz Bosque, Luisa M. Muneta, Gregorio Romero Rey, Berta Suarez, Víctor Berrueta, Alberto Beltrán and Omar Masera

Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3843; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073843 - 31 Mar 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4859 | Correction

Abstract

A traditional use of bioenergy is the main source of residential energy in developing countries, essentially using firewood to cook, boil water or heating affecting people in developing countries. Improved cook stoves are more efficient and less polluting, and there is a need to evaluate different design options to facilitate their adoption. There are different types of very economical improved cookstoves with high combustion efficiency. In Mexico, multiple projects about cook stoves have been carried out, the root of this study being one of them: the Patsari cook stoves. The goal of this project was to modify previous stove designs to align with local people’s habits and traditions. This study shows the importance of including the participation of users in the design of the portable model of Patsari cook stoves, applying the Design Thinking methodology. Many designs or design changes have been carried out on cook stoves by different researchers, but users often do not adapt to them. This article, through a field study, shows the importance of integrating theoretical analyses along with user experiences to facilitate the adoption of improved cook stoves and ensure their success. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainability in Product Development)

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15 pages, 1123 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Time Use Implication of Clean Cookstoves in Rural Settings in Ghana: A Time Use Study

by Rebecca Kyerewaa Dwommoh Prah, Daniel Carrion, Felix Boakye Oppong, Theresa Tawiah, Mohammed Nuhu Mujtaba, Stephaney Gyaase, Adolphine Kwarteng, Kenneth Ayuurebobi Ae-Ngibise, Oscar Agyei, Mieks Twumasi, Francis Agbokey, Kwaku Poku Asante and Darby W. Jack

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(1), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18010166 - 29 Dec 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2860

Abstract

Whilst the health benefit of using clean cookstoves and fuels is widely known, there is limited information on the non-health benefit of these stoves, especially in low-middle-income countries. This paper reports the time use implications of using clean cookstoves and fuels by comparing liquified petroleum gas (LPG), an improved biomass cookstove (BioLite), and traditional biomass cookstoves (three-stone fires) in Ghana. Using survey-based time diaries, information on all the activities undertaken by study participants during a 24-h was collected and analyzed. The findings of the study show that LPG users spent significantly less time gathering firewood compared to the users of improved cookstoves and three-stone fires. LPG users spent slightly less time per cooking episode, generally, and there was no significant difference in cooking time across the three cookstoves mostly due to stove stacking. Time spent engaging in economic activities was highest for LPG users and improved biomass cookstove users, at least when compared to three-stone fire users. In this study, we provide evidence on the time use implications of clean cookstoves, highlighting their non-health benefits and supporting efforts towards the adoption and sustained used of clean cookstoves Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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19 pages, 3716 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Biochar-Producing Gasifier Cookstove Improves Energy Use Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality in Rural Households

by James K. Gitau, Cecilia Sundberg, Ruth Mendum, Jane Mutune and Mary Njenga

Energies 2019, 12(22), 4285; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12224285 - 11 Nov 2019

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 7445

Abstract

Biomass fuels dominate the household energy mix in sub-Saharan Africa. Much of it is used inefficiently in poorly ventilated kitchens resulting in indoor air pollution and consumption of large amounts of wood fuel. Micro-gasification cookstoves can improve fuel use efficiency and reduce indoor air pollution while producing char as a by-product. This study monitored real-time concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), and amount of firewood used when households were cooking dinner. Twenty-five households used the gasifier cookstove to cook and five repeated the same test with three-stone open fire on a different date. With the gasifier, the average corresponding dinner time CO, CO₂, and PM_2.5 concentrations were reduced by 57%, 41%, and 79% respectively compared to three-stone open fire. The gasifier had average biomass-to-char conversion efficiency of 16.6%. If the produced char is used as fuel, households could save 32% of fuel compared to use of three-stone open fire and 18% when char is used as biochar, for instance. Adoption of the gasifier can help to reduce the need for firewood collection, hence reducing impacts on the environment while saving on the amount of time and money spent on cooking fuel. Full article

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15 pages, 279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“It Is Good for My Family’s Health and Cooks Food in a Way That My Heart Loves”: Qualitative Findings and Implications for Scaling Up an Improved Cookstove Project in Rural Kenya

by Bobbie Person, Jennifer D. Loo, Mercy Owuor, Lorraine Ogange, Maria Elena D. Jefferds and Adam L. Cohen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2012, 9(5), 1566-1580; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph9051566 - 30 Apr 2012

Cited by 48 | Viewed by 9446

Abstract

The use of indoor, three-stone fire pits in resource–poor countries is a substantial burden on human health and the environment. We conducted a pilot intervention promoting the purchase and use of an improved cookstove in rural Kenya. The goals of this qualitative inquiry were to understand the motivation to purchase and use; perceived benefits and challenges of cookstove use; and the most influential promotion activities for scaling up future cookstove promotion. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 10 cookstove promoters and 30 cookstove purchasers in the Luo community. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were transcribed and a thematic analysis conducted. Women reported the need for less firewood, fuel cost savings, reduced smoke, improved cooking efficiency, reduced eye irritation, lung congestion and coughing as major benefits of the cookstove. Cost appeared to be a barrier to wider adoption. The most persuasive promotion strategies were interpersonal communication through social networks and cooking demonstrations. Despite this cost barrier, many women still considered the improved cookstove to be a great asset within their household. This inquiry provided important guidance for future cookstove implementation projects. Full article

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