[Stoves] What makes a stove desirable?

[Sujoy Chaudhury]

Hi Philip
A very interesting conclusion- as people in business will say, it is not
always the costs that matter, it is the additional aspects over the primary
purpose that influence a purchase.

Thank you and regards to all

Sujoy Chaudhury
Kolkata, India


On Sat, May 4, 2013 at 4:26 PM, Philip Lloyd <plloyd at mweb.co.za> wrote:

> 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
>
>
>
>
>
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