What we do
StoveAid aims to promote the use of fuel efficient cooking stoves in southern African countries.
More than three billion people, or half the world's population, cook in their homes using traditional fire and stoves, burning biomass fuels like wood, charcoal, dung and crop waste. Given that in the foreseeable future biomass will remain the primary source of basic energy for up to 80% of total energy consumption for families and small businesses in most southern African countries, it is of paramount importance that the available energy is being used in an environmentally sound and socially responsible way.
Day in and day out, for hours at a time, families breathe in lethal fumes from traditional cooking fires. Indoor air pollution currently claims the lives of 1.5 million people a year worldwide, or one person every 20 seconds. Women and children make up 85% of these deaths due to their increased exposure in the home.
The use of fuel efficient cooking stoves can significantly reduce total energy consumption, reducing both carbon emissions and deforestation.
Due to the higher combustion efficiency of modern fuel efficient cooking stoves harmful fumes and indoor air pollution are significantly reduced resulting in improved living conditions and health standards.
Fuelwood consumption is a significant cost to many urban poor in southern African countries and significant economic and social improvements can be achieved through reducing fuelwood consumption using fuel efficient cooking stoves.