Efficient Cook Stoves, Kenya, Africa

Aberdares Improved Cook Stoves, Kenya, Africa: efficient cook stoves

Wood and coal are still the most important energy sources for households in Africa. 90% of households use biomass to generate energy. This will not change in the foreseeable future. It is therefore most important to meet the demand for these resources without cutting down more trees than can grow back in the same period. Heavy logging for energy production is a widespread problem in Africa. Over-exploitation threatens habitats and contributes to climate change.

Aberdares Improved Cook Stoves, Kenya, Africa

This project distributes around 23,000 efficient cooking stoves to households in Central Kenya which are fired with wood. The (solid) brick and mortar construction reduces air pollution and uses the primary fuel wood more efficiently. Pilot studies have shown that 50% less biomass is needed for operation.  These efficient wood stoves replace the traditional and inefficient open 3-stone fireplaces. The conventional stoves, which are mainly used by the poor rural population, are a major cause of local air pollution, generate large quantities of smoke due to the poor combustion effect and also lead to considerable health risks.

All stoves are manufactured by the local population in the Aberdare Range, a mountain range in northwestern Kenya. The Aberdares Range is part of Kenya's water catchment areas and is surrounded by dense forests, raised bogs, streams and waterfalls.

The efficient cooking stoves reduce the pressure on the local forests as much less wood is needed.

The project saves over 20,000 tonnes of CO2 per year and contributes to sustainable development:

• Mothers and children exposed to less carbon monoxide
• The risk factor of air pollution decreases
• Biodiversity is preserved, less wood is needed
• The project secures jobs

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project details

The project fulfils the following objectives of sustainable development of the UN: