[Stoves] Advocacy action: ask the GACC to stop promoting, the WBT

Jiddu alexander san at nesware.net
Fri Jun 23 04:25:30 CDT 2017


Dear Nikhil,

Any stove developer is entitled to use whatever performance testing 
protocol for their product development. However, the WBT has in my view 
been the standard (maybe less so since all the stovelist discussions). 
Most new players joining the field (funders, companies, universities, 
etc.) will generally gravitate to using the WBT. This leads 
automatically to the fact that many stoves are being developed and 
optimised using the WBT protocol.

My opinion is that a stove optimised using the WBT protocol is almost 
certainly not optimised for field performance, it has a random influence 
on field performance. Not only because of CO, PM or efficiency, also due 
to boiling and simmering phases. Further more it contains bad science 
(of which simmering is a big part) that confuses scientists who come 
into the stove field.

You mentioned:

a) I see no reason to care if WBT is unreliable about efficiency and fuel
savings. Has WBT use harmed anybody? I am still waiting for an answer.

I think the WBT harms stove development in many more ways than we can 
imagine, partly as my opinion describes above.

The GACC has a responsibility because so many players (th companies, 
funders, etc.) will follow their advice. I don't think a proper shift 
away from the WBT can be achieved without an official declaration by GACC.

Best,
Jiddu





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