 |
|
HOME :: FACTS :: ACTIVITIES :: SUPPORT :: PHOTOS :: NEWS :: STETSON UNIVERSITY |
|
:: AIR's Main Activities: stoves FUEL EFFICIENT - WOOD BURNING STOVES A large percentage of the Guatemalan population uses wood as fuel for cooking. The traditional open fires used for cooking activities are inefficient in that they waste a great deal of calorific energy, and therefore require a large quantity of wood. In addition to contributing to the daily destruction of local forests, the fires, through their constant emission of noxious smoke within the household, have severe health effects on the population. From 1995-2005 AIR and the community members have built over 700 stoves; saving close to 700 tons of wood a year. These stoves, which are 50% more effective than the traditional open fires, consume far less wood and decrease the need for deforestation. Furthermore, these stoves are built with chimney stacks that eliminate the smoke from the interior of houses. Various churches and organizations have donated the materials for the construction of these stoves, and AIR provides the communities with the technical assistance needed to build the stoves. Each stove costs AIR approximately $100 to build. In 2004, AIR received a grant from "Self-Development of People" program of the Presbyterian Church USA to construct over 100 stoves in El Rincón. See a Powerpoint presentation of photos from the link below <Más evidencias - en español>
|
