[Stoves] The future of biomass stoves

[Jock Gill]

All,

To Paul’s question: Are we making the many efforts for better cookstoves ONLY because of health?

Let us not forget the benefits of using biochar for Restorative Agriculture.  If you are interested in agricultural practices that restore productivity, you may find this article in the July issue of the International Biochar Initiative's newsletter of interest. 

http://www.biochar-international.org/green_fire_farm <http://www.biochar-international.org/green_fire_farm>

There was also a very good article by Michael Low & Hart Brent in the Spring issue of the "Small Farmer’s Journal".  

Cheers,

Jock


Jock Gill
P.O. Box 3
Peacham,  VT 05862

+1 (802) 503-1258

Stewardship: not dominion, extraction or exploitation


> On Nov 17, 2014, at 1:04 PM, Paul Anderson <psanders at ilstu.edu> wrote:
> 
> Stovers,
> 
> The message below from Dr. Kirk Smith's mailing list has not been distributed to the Stoves Listserv.   It is too important to overlook, and merits our discussions.
> 
> He wrote:
>> 
>> newer evidence since 2005 on the health effects of combustion air pollution, as for example found in the latest Global Burden of Disease estimates, would indicate that when the next revision of the AQGs is done (as now planned), the limits will become even lower.  The stove community thus should probably therefore consider what this document recommends as likely to tighten further [emissons standards] over time.    (emphasis added)
> 
> In an earlier (Nov 6) message to the Stoves Listserv, this comment by a reviewer stated about Dr. Smith's work:
>> 
>> IT MARKS A MAJOR SHIFT IN THINKING FROM IMPROVING COOK STOVES TO RECOGNIZING THAT TO GAIN THE POSITIVE HEALTH IMPACT STOVES HAVE TO BE CLEAN (GAS-LIKE), AND THAT PROBABLY THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS ON A MASS SCALE IS THROUGH LP GAS AND ELECTRICITY.
> 
> Holy Smokes!!   Nobody even made a comment about this!!  (I was on a trip and am only replying now.)   That is an endorsement of LP Gas and electricity as "probably the only way" to get the emissions down low enough.   And nobody said anything??
> 
> If we do not discuss this, does that mean that we accept it?   What about these issues:
> 
> 1.  Probably biogas (from wet biomass) is sufficiently clean?
> 
> 2.  Can the TLUD and other gasifiers stoves make the cut-off because they are gas-burning stoves that make their own gases, that is, they are "gas-like" in operations?   And funding to determine if this can happen?
> 
> 3.  Other technologies related to solid fuels for cooking, (including coal as mentioned by Crispin in other messages)?
> 
> 4.  AND what about the socio-economic impracticality to expect that impoverished people who depend on wood and other solid fuels will be able to sustainably obtain LPG and electricity within multiple generations?   Move them up to the top of the energy ladder right away, or simply neglect them for additional decades while the affluent world decides what assistance is given to whom?  
> 
> 5.  And a big issue:   Are we making the many efforts for better cookstoves ONLY because of health?   What about deforestation and fuel efficiency?   and CO2 increases?    and safety from burns?    and development of other biomass fuels / semi-processed biomass from "refuse" and low-value stems, etc.?
> 
> 6.  Should the GACC and other organizations pull out of their support for solid-fuel-stoves?   
> 
> I am certain that Kirk Smith and the GACC and others have the best interests of all in mind.   But in light of the recent scientific and health findings, what should be the future of biomass stoves?
> 
> I will contribute to this discussion as appropriate, but I am not going to get into any individualized debates.   So please direct your comments to EVERYONE.   Feel free to adjust the Subject line to reflect your "flavor" of reply, because there are SOOOOO many different aspects to the topics at hand, and we should soon have a few different threads of messages.
> 
> And remember that this week, Thurs 20 Nov, is the big GACC meeting in New York City.   I have been assured by the organizers that it will have live broadcast via Internet, so we can all listen to the high powered presentations that day.   Will any speaker comment on this latest interpretation of what constitutes "sufficiently clean" regarding cookstoves?   And at the Friday private meeting for the pledging of funding for further clean-cookstove efforts, will the funds flow for LPG and electricity?
> 
> What is the future of biomass stoves?
> 
> Paul
> 
> Doc  /  Dr TLUD  /  Prof. Paul S. Anderson, PhD  
> Email:  psanders at ilstu.edu <mailto:psanders at ilstu.edu>   
> Skype: paultlud      Phone: +1-309-452-7072
> Website:  www.drtlud.com <http://www.drtlud.com/>
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