[Stoves] What makes a stove desirable?

[Philip Lloyd]

Eric Rasmussen asked what "characteristics that make an improved stove, a
sexy, aspirational stove, a stove that women actually want, and use and
cherish, and beg to spend scarce resources to pay for."

If it helps, my experience in a really low income village may be worth
sharing.  It was a recently established village, due to some social
upheavals, and the householders were at the very bottom of the economic
pile, <5% employment, reliant on social grants for survival.  Most homes
were of corrugated iron supported on weak beams, and had ridiculous thermal
properties when you considered an environment where temperatures could go to
-8 deg C overnight in winter.

Coal was the primary cooking and heating fuel, with found wood and dung
subsidiary fuels, and a bit of paraffin. At the lowest income level, the
coal was burned in open braziers, which were usually lit in the late
afternoon outside where the smoke was lost to atmosphere; only when the fire
bed was reduced to a mass of glowing coals was it brought indoors and used
for the evening meal and to heat the home. Indoor air pollution was
terrible.

One of the first investments was a cast-iron stove of a wood-burning design
originating (I think) in the US in the 1870's. The patterns are still
around, and there is a thriving market in spare parts for this design. New
stoves could cost up to $800; a second-hand one cost at least $300.  There
was an established microfinance scheme that allowed users to buy one for
only $10/month - apparently for ever! Certainly one user of an expensive
model was still paying after ten years.

The advantages were numerous - the fact that the stove had a chimney meant
far cleaner indoor air; you could cook, heat water, bake, heat the iron,
keep the home warm during the night, burn rubbish and, above all, invite
your friends to come and share in your success. It was this last which
emerged as almost the most important feature - possession of such a stove
declared your social status to the community.

This is just one example, and is not, of course, universally applicable.  It
happens to be widespread where coal is readily available cheaply - within
about 150km of the coal mines.  But it does illustrate how it is possible
that, if you can really meet people's needs, they will find a way to get
your appliance, however much it costs. 

Regards to all

Philip Lloyd

Energy Institute
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
PO Box 652, Cape Town 8000
Tel:021 460 4216
Fax:021 460 3828
Cell: 083 441 5247