Author: GnetWeb

For most people, Arbor week has always been about planting trees: it is something very visible, tangible and allows one to leave a legacy that will more than likely last several generations. However, when planting, we also need to think about saving trees. Most forests in the world are concentrated in the developing world. This situation is quickly changing as agriculture and especially cooking is driving deforestation in some of the world’s poorest countries. South Africa is no exception, where rising electricity and fossil-fuel prices are driving increasing numbers of people (more than 2 million households already) to use wood and charcoal to meet their daily energy needs. Worldwide, more than 3 billion people (half of the world’s population) rely on wood, charcoal or dung to cook their meals, heat their houses and boil water.

Not only does the use of open fires constitute a serious health risk (Indoor Air Pollution kills one person every 20 seconds) and contribute significantly to climate change, but it is also one of the key drivers behind deforestation. Open fires are notoriously inefficient, with the vast majority of energy being lost, forcing households to use much more wood or charcoal than necessary.

Arbor week is therefore not only a time to plant trees, but also to save them: a simple yet effective way of doing this is through using highly-efficient rocket stoves. These stoves use at least 50% less wood and emit up to 70% less smoke and greenhouse gasses. They also keep their heat for hours, serving a dual purpose as both stove and heater. The stoves are developed by the Aprovecho Research Centre in the USA, specifically for low-income households who frequently use wood or charcoal. They consist of a sheet metal outer cover, cast-iron stovetop and (most importantly) aerated ceramic clay inner. About 100 000 of these stoves are in use in India and China and they last at least 2 years if used daily.

For more information on the StoveTec rocket stoves, please contact Restio Energy on (021) 850 0771 or stoves@restio.co.za. The stoves are retailing for between R300 and R400 (depending on the model) and wholesale prices are also available for those interested retailing the stoves in their area.

It seems that ever more people are catching the StoveTec fire, with Popular Mechanicsand Tuis/Home magazines featuring the stove in their September 2010 editions. You can also win a stove in competitions hosted by these magazines, so be sure to get your hands on them as soon as possible.

We now have over 40 agents in South Africa (as well as Namibia and Swaziland). However, there are still important areas not yet covered (e.g. Durban, Kimberley, Lesotho and large areas of the Eastern Cape). If you’re interested in retailing the stove in these areas, please let us know.

We are also retailing an exciting new companion product called a Hot Box. The Hot Box is a simple, fantastic energy saver that works brilliantly as a companion product to the StoveTec stove, as it allows 2 dishes to be cooked at the same time, eliminating the need for a second plate.

So how does it work? Well, you simply bring your food to the boil, put it in the Hot Box and leave it for the next hour or two. The Hot Box is so efficient that, if you put your food into it in the morning just before leaving for work, you’ll have a hot, tasty dinner ready and waiting for you when you return home in the evening. The golden rule with the hot box is: the longer, the better. It is therefore ideal for curries, stews and soups. It also works brilliantly when preparing rice, potatoes and sources of starch. The Hot Boxes are made by HIV-positive single mothers from Khayelithsa, for who this is an important source of income. Call us on (021) 850 0771 or email us for more info.

 

[fblike style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”recommend” font=”arial”]

[linkedin_share style=”none”]

The Voice,  one of Botswana’s biggest newspapers, published an article on the StoveTec stove on Friday, the 16th of April. The article states that “…there is huge market potential for these stoves in Botswana…” and does a great job of expounding the virtues of the product. Read all about it here.

The Ashden Awards has also published a report on efficient biomass stoves, calling them “the secret weapon against poverty and climate change”. The report goes into relatively great detail on the problem/reasons for the stoves, the products themselves and users’ experiences. It’s a great read that you can download here.