Fuel-efficient chulhas

Advantages of fuel efficient chulhas

- Use less fuel
- Reduce fuel collection time
- Reduce cooking time
- Produce less smoke
- Conserve trees
- Allow more dung to be used as fertilizer instead of fuel
- Provide work for local chulha makers

Millions of women in developing countries spend hours each day gathering fuel and still more hours feeding inefficient, smokey chulhas. These ovens harm women's health, add to women's work load, and contribute to deforestation. To combat this problem, many fuel-efficient ovens have been designed and promoted over the years. These improved chulhas all have something in common: they are scientifically designed for better heat flow, which means that maximum heat is taken from the fuel and directed at the cooking pots.

Models

Many different models of improved chulhas are available:

- Pottery-lined mud chulha with or without chimney
- Portable metal chulha
- Portable ceramic-lined metal chulha
- Portable chulha with separate hood chimney
- Pottery-lined chulha without chimney

Portable metal chulha

Portable ceramic-lined metal chulha

Installation

Improved chulhas are installed by specially trained, selfemployed chulha makers. Customers are helped to choose the right chulha to meet their needs-depending on family size, kitchen location, type of fuel to be used. Normally, chimneys are recommended for closed, poorly ventilated areas.

Economies

Chulhas are normally made from locally available materials. But, depending on the chulha's size and design-whether the chulha includes a chimney pipe, smoke hood, ceramic or metal components-and taking into account installation charge and available subsidies, an improved chulha can cost from R15 to R150.

If you are interested in having a fuel-efficient improved chulha, contact the block development officer in your area.

Contributor: Mr. S. K. Jagwani