Experience with improved charcoal and wood stoves for households and institutions in Kenya

Book · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6600869

Hyman, E L

Efforts at promoting more fuel-efficient charcoal stoves to replace traditional charcoal stoves in Kenya offer some lessons for the dissemination of appropriate technologies. This paper looks at the market-based approach which has made the Kenyan charcoal stoves project a success. Trends in woodfuels (wood and charcoal) consumption in Kenya are identified; the traditional technology for charcoal combustion and the upgraded traditional technologies are described; production achievement and the dissemination and promotion strategy used are examined; and a financial and economic analysis is performed with social, health and environmental effects assessed. Other ways to achieve a more favourable balance between woodfuels consumption and supply are then discussed looking at more efficient charcoal kilns and household woodstoves, improved institutional stoves and increased wood production. The replication potential of the Kenya experiment in other countries is also explored. The lessons learnt from the the Kenya experience concern the relationship between technology, choice and delivery systems as they interact with, economic, institutional, and policy factors. In this case, the design work accepted the traditional technology as a starting point which helped ensure widespread acceptance by households. The potential desirability of relying on local artisans to manufacture consumer durables using existing private sector channels to market these goods is also shown. It also highlights the importance of going beyond a laissez-faire approach and supporting training, demonstration, and publicity to faciliate the workings of the private sector. In the Kenyan case, technology choice was relatively unsubsidized and left ot the preferences of consumers.

• OSTI ID: 6600869
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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ADSORBENTS
AFRICA
APPLIANCES
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
CHARCOAL
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
KENYA
OXIDATION
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
STOVES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES
WOOD FUELS