How many budding inventors come up with inventions that are good for their creativity but of no practical use?
What would happen if some of them channeled their energy in building if not a perfect at least a better stove for use in developing countries?
This morning on WNYC, Burkhard Bilger was talking about his piece Hearth Surgery (New Yorker, December 21) where he shares what he learned on the search for the perfect clean-energy efficient under $10 stove.
Millions of people from Africa to Asia, use various contraptions to cook their meals.
There is the safety issue that many pose from starting fires to causing burns.
Clouds of smoke billowing over these 'kitchen' pollute the atmosphere and make people sick.
Many of these 'stoves' use wood as their main fuel and are energy inefficient which accelerates deforestation.
Not perfect but an improvement on what many impoverished countries use (as shown by their video below) are offerings from StoveTec which can be ordered for humanitarian projects by the container full.
Cost per item in that case runs from $3 to $12 depending on the type, either as kit or wood stove or wood-charcoal combo.
If nothing else it gave me a sense of perspective. It's not all about big things like windmill farms.
Small things can mean a world of difference.
Greening that stove for Green Day # 106
Previously:
With Climate Change Conference in Full Swing, Are Black Trees the Way to Greener Christmas