By 
Last week, Colorado-based non-profit Envirofit introduced clean-burning biomass stoves in India, a project that will attempt to reduce fuel consumption, toxic emissions, and offer a sustainable business model to foster local enterprise. In an effort to reduce indoor air pollution in developing nations, Envirofit teamed up with the UK’s Shell Foundation as a part of its Breathing Space program. The cook stoves will reduce toxic emissions by 80%, use 50% less fuel, and reduce the cooking cycle by 40%, according to the organization’s press release.
Biomass typically consists of organic materials like wood, crop waste, or animal dung, and for many households in places like India, is the main source of fuel for activities like cooking. Developed at the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory at Colorado State University, the cook stoves were engineered to burn traditionally used biomass materials more efficiently.
Though the cook stoves have been initially launched in India, Envirofit plans on expanding the project to Latin America, Africa, and several other regions eventually. “There are an estimated 1.6 million deaths per year due to toxic indoor air pollution (IAP). We are proud to be partnered with Envirofit International to introduce clean-burning wood stove technology in India while employing the first market-based business model,” said Ajit Abraham, a representative of Shell Foundation in India.
The goal of this project is also to develop local and regional enterprises by creating a network of dealers, distributors, and village entrepreneurs at various levels.
“Although cooking habits in semi-urban and rural India are steeped in tradition and perpetuated by myths, the response to our stoves has been very strong as each stove has been developed based on extensive market research and local customer insights,” said Harish Anchan, General Manager of Envirofit India Pvt Ltd. “We are in discussion with financing institutions for low cost financing options to provide additional options for families to buy the stoves.” The stoves are available in five models and will range roughly from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 (approx $12-$50).
Envirofit first become known for their initiative to retrofit polluting two-stroke engines in Southeast Asia, as reported here on Treehugger.
Comments
July 31, 2008 at 6:13 am PDT | BAYOR writes:
mersieurs,
Nous vous felicitons pour votre d√©couverte concernant vos cook stoves adapt√©s √† l’usage des d√©chets de r√©colte du bois , des excr√©ments d’anmaux .
Nous souhations vous representer ou etre votre distrobuteur au TOGO Burkina-Fasso etc…
Le desert avance au Togo et pour la protection de l’environnement nous pensons que sa sera un tre√©s bon march√© car nous pensons cantacter les autorit√©s ,les d√©cideurs du TOGO qui sont des camarades de classes.
Nous profitons pour porter a votre connaissance notre Societe qui d√©nomm√©es Comptoire d’Exploitations des produits agricoles et Marketing qui op√©re depuis 1997 au TOGO.Directeur de la societe et suis pr√©sident de l’Association “ARTISANT TRANSFERT DE TECHNOLOGIE ADAPT2E ET ENVIRONNEMENT”Toutes nos structures sont enr√©gistr√©es au TOGO.
Disposant moi meme d’une huilerie industrielle l√©gere , les d√©chets des graines ol√©agineuses , les tourteaux servirons eventuellement comme combustible.toute forme de coop√©ration pour la vulgarisation de vos cook stoves serait la bienvenu.
Dans la suite de vous lire sous peu recevez Merssieurs Mesdames , mes salutations les meilleurs.
Le Directeur
BAYOR Soufiane
Administrateur Civil,Documentaliste
Cel:00228-9167489
9575244
Subject:We wish to be your sole agent in TOGO
Dear sirs,
We are interested in your Biomass stoves.
We would like to be your distributor or buy them
We are looking forward to hearing from you
Yours Fathfully
BAYOR Soufiane
September 23, 2008 at 12:41 pm PDT | M Nayamul Quader writes:
Dear Sir,
We are a trading company from Bangladesh , Wish to buy your stoves. PLease send me the details with price. My contact details are:
M Nayamul Quader
email: hemsbd@yahoo.com
mobile no: 880-01818175550
October 18, 2008 at 5:08 am PDT | Atanasiu Ovidiu writes:
Dear Sirs,
I am writing you from Romania. I am running a romanian registered company and we are now setteling up a business in the field of biomass collection and distribution.
We are able to collect each year important biomass quantities ( especially wood waste coming from the romanian wood processing industry )and we are looking for an experienced, reliable, long-term partner in order to market the biomass. We can also discuss about a joint-venture in order to develop more biomass collecting potential( agricultural waste, forest cleanning… ).
If you feel interested, please contact me. I speak english and german.
Best regards,
Ovidiu Atanasiu.
International Job Romania.
Tel : +40 727 429 064
Fax : +40 268 254 494
April 01, 2009 at 21:48 pm PDT | Abraham David writes:
Dear sirs,
We are interested in your Biomass stoves.
We would like to be your distributor.
Thanks & Regards,
Abraham David Potla
+91-9392585599.
Visakhapatnam-India.