A company based in Colorado is now selling clean stoves at between $12 and $25 to these underprivileged people. This company, Envirofit, had to determine the right kind of material to use in their stove that would not burn up too quickly, and through research came up with an iron-based alloy that is the cheapest and best material. They have sold over 150,000 stoves in India, one of the main places where population density and low wages have limited development.
These stoves will increase longevity in places like India and also decrease the amount of pollution an average family puts out, because they cut harmful emissions 80% from traditional cooking fires. They also cut cooking time in half and use 60% less fuel, giving women more time to do things other than cooking or searching for fuel.
Read the full article-- http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/business/energy-environment/30iht-rencook.html?_r=1
12-25$ almost sounds unrealistic to me for a stove. Its even more interesting that these clean stoves are being given to the poor when usually the poor gets the leftovers and used-utilities. But i do agree with the kitchen/house pollution and how it can be bad for our bodies.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, $12-$25 is not a cheap price for those people in these developing countries that need it. Most of these counries have such a huge poverty gap that those that can afford this type of stove don't need it, and those that can't do. When you are looking at a country where some people have an income of less than $100 a year, you will understand that most of that money will be spent on basic survival needs, not on stoves. These stoves are a great idea, but economically, they are still not that viable in helping the needy. Cool prospect, though, and they should continue to try to lower the price. Environmentally, these stoves would be a boon.
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