Sustainable Dissemination of Improved Cookstoves: Lessons from ...
Improved Mexican Cookstoves Project - CarbonNeutral · Improved Mexican Cookstoves Project Based in...
2
Improved Mexican Cookstoves Project Based in some of the poorest rural states in Mexico, the Improved Mexican Cookstoves Project makes efficient cookstoves affordable to low-income households, reducing fuel use by as much as 60% and reducing exposure to harmful indoor air pollution – the fourth worst risk factor for disease in developing countries. 1 The project is validated to both the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). The project The high-quality, affordable plancha wood stoves which are sold by the project have been specifically designed to be locally appropriate for the communities in Mexico and replace inefficient, traditional, 3-stone fires. The new stove has an enclosed fire chamber which is important for reducing burn risks to users and children, and the metal surface is suitable for cooking local foods such as beans and tortillas either with pots or directly on the metal plate. The stove uses simple design enhancements which enable biomass fuel to burn more cleanly and efficiently and reduce fuel use by as much as 60%. Each stove is estimated to save 2,800kg of fire wood per year. In addition to cost savings for households who purchase fuel, which costs between 0.01USD and 0.40 USD per kg, the new stove is estimated to save households who collect fuel approximately five hours per week compared to a traditional stove. 2 The stove also uses a galvanised chimney to remove particulate matter and toxic emissions from the home. The significant benefits to health from improved cookstoves are particularly significant for women and children who spend the most time in the home and cooking for the family. The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves estimates that there are an estimated 4,300 avoidable deaths from indoor air pollution in Mexico each year. 3 According to the National Institute of Ecology of Mexico, the improved cookstove used in this project reduces 98.6% of particulate matter particles which are smaller than 2.5 micrometres and that penetrate into the body’s respiratory system causing exposure to lung damage. The stove also reduces the odourless and colourless carbon monoxide that risks body functions by interrupting oxygen uptake, to well below the carbon monoxide exposure guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO). 4 The stoves are manufactured in Mexico, with factories in Oaxaca and San Luis Potosi, and assembled locally. Their durable design and fixture within the home means they’re expected to last for about 10 years. The CarbonNeutral Company - a world-leading provider of carbon reduction solutions London T: +44 20 7833 6000 E: [email protected] New York T: 1-646-367-5800 E: [email protected] www.carbonneutral.com The importance of clean cookstoves Globally, nearly three billion people use solid fuels on traditional stoves or open fires for cooking and space heating. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 estimates that exposure to smoke from the simple act of cooking is the fourth worst risk factor for disease in developing countries. Exposure to cookstove smoke causes more premature deaths globally than malaria or tuberculosis and many more suffer non-fatal illnesses. Distributing improved stoves is a core preventative health measure which reduces childhood respiratory illness and improves adult lung health. The stoves burn firewood more effectively to reduce incomplete combustion and the subsequent indoor air pollution, which is mainly carbon monoxide and particulate matter. Efficient cookstoves reduce the amount of fuel needed, and in turn reduce exposure in the household to harmful indoor air pollution, time spent collecting wood, household expenditure on fuel, and environmental degradation from the collection of biomass. 1 Global Disease Burden (2010) Published Mar-2013, http://www.healthmetricsandevaluation.org/gbd/ visualizations/gbd-arrow-diagram, Accessed 25/11/2013 2 A field survey conducted by HELPS in Mexico 3 Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (2014) Mexico Market Assessment, http://www.cleancookstoves.org/ resources_files/mexico-market-sector-mapping.pdf, Accessed 18/02/2014 4 HELPS International: “The Onil Stove” www.globalgiving.org/pfil/1946/projdoc.doc Accessed 02/04/2014
Transcript of Improved Mexican Cookstoves Project - CarbonNeutral · Improved Mexican Cookstoves Project Based in...
Improved Mexican Cookstoves Project
Based in some of the poorest rural states in Mexico, the Improved Mexican Cookstoves Project makes efficient cookstoves affordable to low-income households, reducing fuel use by as much as 60% and reducing exposure to harmful indoor air pollution – the fourth worst risk factor for disease in developing countries.1 The project is validated to both the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).
The project
The high-quality, affordable plancha wood stoves which are sold by the project have been specifically designed to be locally appropriate for the communities in Mexico and replace inefficient, traditional, 3-stone fires. The new stove has an enclosed fire chamber which is important for reducing burn risks to users and children, and the metal surface is suitable for cooking local foods such as beans and tortillas either with pots or directly on the metal plate.
The stove uses simple design enhancements which enable biomass fuel to burn more cleanly and efficiently and reduce fuel use by as much as 60%. Each stove is estimated to save 2,800kg of fire wood per year. In addition to cost savings for households who purchase fuel, which costs between 0.01USD and 0.40 USD per kg, the new stove is estimated to save households who collect fuel approximately five hours per week compared to a traditional stove.2
The stove also uses a galvanised chimney to remove particulate matter and toxic emissions from the home. The significant benefits to health from improved cookstoves are particularly significant for women and children who spend the most time in the home and cooking for the family. The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves estimates that there are an estimated 4,300 avoidable deaths from indoor air pollution in Mexico each year.3
According to the National Institute of Ecology of Mexico, the improved cookstove used in this project reduces 98.6% of particulate matter particles which are smaller than 2.5 micrometres and that penetrate into the body’s respiratory system causing exposure to lung damage. The stove also reduces the odourless and colourless carbon monoxide that risks body functions by interrupting oxygen uptake, to well below the carbon monoxide exposure guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO).4
The stoves are manufactured in Mexico, with factories in Oaxaca and San Luis Potosi, and assembled locally. Their durable design and fixture within the home means they’re expected to last for about 10 years.
The CarbonNeutral Company - a world-leading provider of carbon reduction solutions London T: +44 20 7833 6000 E: [email protected] New York T: 1-646-367-5800 E: [email protected] www.carbonneutral.com
The importance of clean cookstoves
Globally, nearly three billion people use solid fuels on traditional stoves or open fires for cooking and space heating. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 estimates that exposure to smoke from the simple act of cooking is the fourth worst risk factor for disease in developing countries.
Exposure to cookstove smoke causes more premature deaths globally than malaria or tuberculosis and many more suffer non-fatal illnesses. Distributing improved stoves is a core preventative health measure which reduces childhood respiratory illness and improves adult lung health. The stoves burn firewood more effectively to reduce incomplete combustion and the subsequent indoor air pollution, which is mainly carbon monoxide and particulate matter.
Efficient cookstoves reduce the amount of fuel needed, and in turn reduce exposure in the household to harmful indoor air pollution, time spent collecting wood, household expenditure on fuel, and environmental degradation from the collection of biomass.
1Global Disease Burden (2010) Published Mar-2013, http://www.healthmetricsandevaluation.org/gbd/visualizations/gbd-arrow-diagram, Accessed 25/11/2013
2A field survey conducted by HELPS in Mexico 3Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (2014) Mexico Market Assessment, http://www.cleancookstoves.org/
resources_files/mexico-market-sector-mapping.pdf, Accessed 18/02/2014 4HELPS International: “The Onil Stove” www.globalgiving.org/pfil/1946/projdoc.doc Accessed 02/04/2014
www.carbonneutral.com
The CarbonNeutral Company - a world-leading provider of carbon reduction solutions London T: +44 20 7833 6000 E: [email protected] New York T: 1-646-367-5800 E: [email protected]
Project implementation
Carbon finance is used to help develop the project’s capacity for production, sales and marketing, and installation of the improved cookstoves, in addition to ensuring that households have access to after sales support. The revenue stream from the sale of carbon credits enables the price of the stove to be kept at an affordable level for low income homes which will in turn enable the project to expand through the country.
By the end of 2013, more than 30,000 stoves had been sold in south and central Mexico, with a particular focus on the states of Oaxaca and Guanajuato. However, sales have also already been made in nine other states.
The project is implemented with the support of HELPS International, a charity which reduces poverty and improves education and healthcare through distribution of this type of product. HELPS conducts training and educational community meetings when stoves are installed, giving users the opportunity to give feedback and raise concerns. In addition, there are follow-up meetings four to six weeks after installation to address any technical or adoption problems.
The region
Despite recent economic prosperity and Mexico’s rise into its current middle income country status, in 2012 over 60% of people in rural areas were living below the national poverty line according to World Bank data.5 With a rural population estimated at 25 million that means more than 15 million living with less than 5 USD per day.
The poorest regions in the country are around the south, including states such as Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas, where the project is making sales. The typical wage in the communities impacted by the project is between 6 and 10 USD per day, however, the majority of employment in the region is typically temporary and short term.
Despite Mexico having low rates of deforestation within Latin America; roughly 87% of wood harvested nationally is non-renewable, demonstrating highly unsustainable forest use in the country. Decreasing fuel wood use through this type of project eases the burden of overuse on forests and subsequently decreases deforestation rates.
5World Bank (2012) Poverty headcount ratio at rural poverty line (% of rural population), http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.RUHC, Accessed 02/04/2014
Guanajuato
Guerrero
Hidalgo
Estado de Mexico
OaxacaPuebla
Queretaro
Tabasco
Veracruz
Chiapas
San Luis Potosi
