Improved cookstoves programme in North India
Results
The programme covered 86 households in more than 20 villages of Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, improving the air quality in the kitchen by providing them with an efficient and user-friendly cooking and water heating device. Based on local initiatives, cookstoves with embedded water tanks were developed. These stoves are also found suitable for those using hot water in the summer due to cold weather in the hills. By the time the programme completed, 241 cookstoves had been installed in Solan and Shimla districts
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Traditional cookstove giving way to the improved one |
The improved chulha has a sliding firebox door and chimney dampers to control air supply for combustion. During field trials, fuelwood savings of the order of 40% were observed (Prasad. 1999). Apart from fuel saving, the main advantage of the stove lies in hot water availability, almost throughout the day, as the embedded water tanks also act as hot water storage devices. After the programme was completed, the following observations were made:
The increasing acceptance of the improved stove shows that the programme has had a positive impact on the users, saving cooking time and fuel, and providing hot water cheaply.
Problem
Livelihood patterns in rural India are characterized by biomass-based systems. Cooking is the largest energy consuming end-use in the domestic sector, accounting for almost 90% of the total domestic energy use. Wood, crop residue, and animal dung are the main fuels available and used in rural areas.
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Traditional chulha has serious environmental effects as it leads to high levels of indoor air pollution |
The rural energy consumption pattern depends on geographical, cultural, social, and economic factors. The energy consumption pattern for energy and fuel-mix also vary considerably across different agro-climatic zones. For example, firewood, crop residue, and dungcake are consumed in the Western Himalayan zone at the rate of 1.95 kg/cap/d, 0.14 kg/cap/d, and 0.22 kg/cap/d, respectively; whereas in the East Coast Plains and Hills, the consumption rate of these bio-fuels is 0.60 kg/cap/d, 0.08 kg/cap/d, and 0.13 kg/cap/d, respectively (Planning Commission. 1992).
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Health problems associated with traditional chulhas |
The kind of bio-fuel, its amount and availability on a daily basis, and other factors that are specific to certain agro-climatic zones play a key role in establishing the energy consumption pattern. While a significant proportion of energy may be used for heating water, and cooking in cold areas such as the Western Himalayan zone, in the East Coast Plains and Hills, energy may only be consumed during cooking.
The present level of fuelwood consumption is around 200 million tonnes per annum (TERI. 1997), while it is estimated that the annual sustainable yield of fuelwood is only about 86 million tonnes per annum. Thus, there is a wide gap between demand and sustainable supply. The inefficient use of biomass in traditional devices has serious environmental effects and leads to high levels of indoor air pollution, which affects women and children during cooking. Since the bio-fuel consumption in Himachal Pradesh is the highest (firewood - 1.31 kg/cap/d, crop residue – 0.14 kg/cap/d, dungcake – 0.22 kg/cap/d) when compared to other states in India (NCAER. 1985), the environmental effects of indoor air pollution are also higher in the state
Therefore, it was felt that energy intervention needed to be integrated with development activities.
Setting
Initially improved cookstoves were installed in more than 20 villages of Kandaghat block of Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, by TERI researchers with the help of local people. The Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and the Gas Authority of India Ltd sponsored the project. After its completion, local non-governmental organizations trained in this field extended the target area from Solan district to Shimla district
Approach
In the study area, the main device used for cooking and water heating is the traditional three-pot mud cookstove. These stoves have low thermal efficiencies for cooking ranging from 8% to 10%, have a high thermal mass, are made of stone and mud, and are generally not provided with chimneys. Wood is the major energy source for domestic cooking as well as for water heating in this region. The common species used as fuel are Chir (Pinus roxburghii), Banj (Quercus), and other shrub species.
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An improved cookstove in the making |
The traditional cookstove was modified to address the need for hot water expressed by the local community. The design of the improved cookstove was developed with inputs and suggestion from users.
The design had two metal water tanks (one each on both sides of the firebox with a combined capacity of 15 litres) for heating water and were embedded in the stove structure. The tanks were connected to an overhead water tank, which supplied cold water. Hot water is drawn from a water tap provided in the kitchen or in the bathrooms. The stove was provided with a chimney, which sucked in air for combustion and also removed smoke.
Intervention
Cookstove performance tests and their impact
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An Improved cookstove in use |
The improved cookstove designed for cold hilly region consists of two water tanks embedded in the stove structure, a chimney to channel the smoke outside, and a front damper to maintain the temperature in the stove and water pipes.
Five families were selected for the first phase of implementation. Two days were spent in construction and installation of the stove in each household, during which household members were given detailed information about its design and functions. A second visit was made after 4–5 days to train members of the households. 10–20 days after installation, tests were carried out between the improved and traditional models to compare fuel consumption and cooking time (tests were repeated).
Results showed that households saved fuel (Figure 2) and cooking time with the improved model. At the same time, users were surveyed for more qualitative information about the performance of the improved model relative to the traditional devices.
Technology promotion
The improved cookstove model installed in the five households served as technology demonstration for the villagers, in addition to providing data about technical performance. The Mahila Mandal was approached to convince the village community about the benefits of the technology, as it was believed to have greater credibility with the villagers.
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Fuel consumption results (traditional and improved cookstoves) |
An awareness programme for village women on environmental issues related to fuelwood consumption, over-exploitation of resources, deforestation, and health hazards from indoor pollution (burning of biomass in the kitchen) was carried out. The benefits of improved cookstoves were also made known to the villagers.
The test results of performance surveys were shared with communities in neighbouring villages as well, and they were invited to see the installed models. The objective was to promote the technology in several villages and create a wider demand for the devices.
Demand assessment, system preference, and social acceptanceThe important features of the dissemination strategy used in this programme were repeated rounds of technology demonstration and information sharing, followed by demand assessment surveys. The team also modified the technology to suit individual preferences. Thus, the demand for the devices increased with successive rounds of demonstration.
After the first test model was installed, households in the village were asked if they were willing to adopt the technology, and a ranked list was prepared of volunteer households for the first phase implementation. These systems generated acceptance in surrounding households as well. After the performance test results were shared in neighbouring villages and Mahila Mandal groups were engaged to convince the villagers of the benefits. After awareness programmes were held promoting the environmental and health benefits of the technology, a demand assessment survey was conducted in several villages.
As mentioned earlier, the villagers could visit the households, where the improved stoves had been installed and inspect the devices, or interview the test households before making up their minds. About 20 households adopted the technology at this stage. When more cookstoves were installed, additional demand was generated. In total, 86 improved cookstoves with hot water arrangement were installed.
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Improved chulha – reducing smoke emission, saving bio-fuel and time |
Another factor for the ready acceptance of the improved cookstove was the flexibility of the device and other benefits, including fuel saving, time-saving during cooking, in fetching fuelwood and reduced smoke emissions. The most visible benefit was the availability of hot water without extra effort. In addition, households could have additional features installed or have the system modified according to their choice if they were willing to pay an additional cost.
The cost of the improved stove along with pipelines, fitting, and labour comes to around Rs 600-700 per system, excluding the cold water tank. Of the total system cost, 30% was contributed by the beneficiary family and the design found ready acceptance in large families.
Inputs from stakeholdersDuring the initial household survey, feedback was taken about the water heating tank connected to a cookstove, which had been developed by a housewife. An in-built water tank had been placed at the bottom of the firebox with connections to the bathroom. This design was later modified to incorporate TERI’s model of improved cookstove for the village. The first improved cookstove was designed after studying approved models of improved cookstoves. The new model was installed in a test household and monitored for one month. This design was modified thrice subsequently according to the households’ inputs. Kitchen design, space availability, and user preferences were also taken into account so that the design of the improved cookstove could be modified slightly for individual households.
Stakeholders' perspectives
An important factor for successful development was the willingness of the test household to engage itself in such a test and undergo the trouble of repeated instructions and construction, as well as the cooperation of household members in providing inputs for modification. The cookstove was later installed in five volunteer households, who wished to adopt for the system and pay for it, and performance tests were carried out during this phase. Again, the willingness of households to adopt a test technology was important for the technology demonstration and dissemination phase.
Documentation
Planning Commission. 1992
Eighth Five Year Plan (1992-97)
New Delhi: Planning Commission, Government of India
NCAER. 1985 Domestic Fuel Survey with Special reference to Kerosene
New Delhi: National Council for Applied Economic Research
TERI. 1997
Fuel substitution in the rural sector
New Delhi: Tata Energy Research Institute
Prasad R. 1999
Community participation in the development of an improved chulha in cold regions of North India
Boiling Point Spring(42): 30-32
Contact
For queries on this case study, contact Mr Rakesh Prasad
Field Manager, Rural Extension Activity