TITLE:
The Efficiency of the Energy Saving Stoves in Amboseli Ecosystem-Analysis of Time, Energy and Carbon Emissions Savings
AUTHORS:
David Owino Manoa, Tim Oloo, Simon Kasaine
KEYWORDS:
Energy-Saving Stoves, Time, Carbon Dioxide, Fuel Wood, Efficiency, Amboseli
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Energy Efficiency,
Vol.6 No.3,
August
29,
2017
ABSTRACT: It
is estimated that more than 2.5 billion people worldwide use biomass for
cooking. Burning biomass is one of the major contributors to carbon dioxide (CO2)
emission—a principle gas in global
warming and climate change. One way of cutting down the CO2 emissions is adaptation of efficient and clean energy technologies. This study
examined the efficiency of the energy saving stoves in Amboseli ecosystem by
comparing the cooking time, energy use, wood fuel and carbon emissions to the
traditional three stone open fire set ups. The result indicates a statistical difference in the time spent
cooking on energy stoves and three stone open fire (t = 5.3055; n = 60; p = 0.00117). Energy saving stoves saved 12.7% - 33.3% of wood fuel compared to the traditional three
stones set ups. Water boiling tests to determine the energy savings, revealed that energy saving stoves saved between
25.74% and 26.16% energy/joule per session in-house and outdoor settings
respectively. Based on the two meals prepared per day by each household, the
total Carbon Emission Savings for the 1000 local beneficiaries of energy saving
stoves varied from 102,200 kg CO2 (indoor cooking) to 357,700 kg CO2 (outdoor cooking) per year. It is
therefore concluded that energy saving stoves saves time, fuel wood and energy,
and reduces carbon emissions. The study findings refute the claims that open
fire when carefully operated can be fuel efficient and clean burning to rival energy saving stoves. To improve
the performance of the energy saving stoves, it is recommended that a design
modification be done to include a chimney to emit excess smoke during
indoor cooking; and the stove should be fixed to the floor with mortar to minimise
heat loss and breakages.