We realize that not every stove and briquette program is viable until some serious “ground-truthing” has occurred. But who, or what agency, does one turn to to carry out this work? What multi-lateral or development agency is spearheading the coordination of a global effort to ramp up the adoption of green technology and clean fuels for the Bottom Of the Pyramid? Does one have to go knocking on every agency or NGO door for support? Every week we get several emails from all over the world asking for help in establishing a stove or briquettes program. From Burkina Faso, to Continue reading
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Battle of the manufactured stoves
One thing we’ve learned is that stoves are a bit like dogs: they come in every shape, size, and specs.
From the scrappy mongrel that’s hardwired for survival, to the pedigreed hound that’s bred for speed, they all have traits their fans will swear by.
So, when a report evaluating the performance of various mass-produced stoves landed on our desk(top), we pounced on it!
World’s Pall of Black Carbon Can Be Eased With New Stoves
by Jon R. Luoma for Yale360
Two billion people worldwide do their cooking on open fires, producing sooty pollution that shortens millions of lives and exacerbates global warming. If widely adopted, a new generation of inexpensive, durable cook stoves could go a long way toward alleviating this problem.
With a single, concerted initiative, says Lakshman Guruswami, the world could save millions of people in poor nations from respiratory ailments and early death, while dealing a big blow to global warming — and all at a surprisingly small cost.
TCP to sponsor cost-benefit review of global biomass dependence
While much attention has been paid to the social and economic impact of Indoor Air Pollution (IAP), we feel strongly that compiling more comprehensive data on the environmental costs (including Climate Change, loss of ecosystem services, etc.), and impacts on labor productivity and poverty alleviation would help establish the baseline necessary from which to begin a comprehensive review of current policies and cost-benefit analysis of energy-efficiency promotion on a global scale.
It’s official: black carbon declared gaseosa non-grata
It seems like (BC) (aka soot or particulate matter), is finally being recognized as one of the top worst greenhouse gas offenders.
Regardless of whether you think it contributes 20 or 50 percent of climate warming “radiative forcing,” Congressional hearings held earlier this week in Washington have ensured that this byproduct of biomass and fossil fuel combustion will forever live in infamy.
This erstwhile symbol of the industrial revolution has been definitely declared gaseosa non-grata.
Black Carbon can refocus attention where it’s most needed
BC’s new-found notoriety, may be one of the best things to happen to the biomass & bioenergy community.
That’s because international public opinion — especially those on the forefront of the fight against climate change — will hopefully now turn their attention on this villain — along with their principal emitters: the energy poor who depend on biomass as their primary source of energy.