Logging in reserves is a widespread problem in Rwanda. The overuse contributes to climate change and threatens natural habitats of the world-renowned mountain gorillas and numerous other plant and animal species.
Traditional cooking on three-stone fire is not only inefficient, but also exposes its users to hazardous smoke gases. Cooking is often done inside the houses which implies severe respiratory problems especially for women and children.
The Save80 cookstove set used in Rwanda consists of a stove made of stainless steel, pots and a ’wonderbox‘ for simmering and keeping food warm. Compared to the traditional three stones fire, up to 80% of firewood can be saved using the efficient stainless steel stove.
The components for the Save80 stoves, such as the stainless steel plates, are shipped to Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. Using the land route from there, they reach our partner organization’s warehouse in Kigali. Currently, we are building a stove factory in Kigali with our partners to shift the entire production of the Save80 to Rwanda.
The stainless steel sheets are bent and assembled through our on-site partner organizations, Safer Rwanda and Rwanda Women Network. In both cases, mainly women are employed, which contributes positively to a greater autonomy and self-determination of the women.
Before using the efficient cook stoves, all users receive training. Cooking on the Save80 stove is very intuitive, as it is very similar to the usage of the traditional three stone fire. For many users, it is stunning how little wood the Save80 stove needs.
Save80 stoves require 80% less firewood in comparison to the traditional three-stone fire, which saves a considerable amount of time and money for the procurement of firewood and contributes to the conservation of forests. Moreover, hazardous smoke gases are reduced and the Save80 can also be used outdoors if the weather is good.
Each year, the project is verified by a UN accredited inspection authority. The auditors record frequency of stove usage and assess the efficiency of the stoves. In 2017, the UN officially attested a 100% utilization rate of our Save80 stoves in Rwandan households.
In 2016, atmosfair conducted a health study with 500 participants in the refugee camp Kiziba, Rwanda. The study was done in cooperation with UNHCR, physicians of the University of Lübeck, as well as the German non-profit association Buana from Hamburg. Tests showed measurably improved pulmonary function parameters in all test persons only eight months after the stoves were distributed.
Summary
| Total savings : | 200,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year |
| Technology transfer : | Efficient firewood stoves that save 80% of energy |
| Local environment : | Less deforestation in the region |
| Further advantages : | Fewer expenses for household energy (on charcoal), lowering the potential for tension over firewood |
| Project partners : | SaferRwanda, Rwanda Women Network, UNHCR, ENEDOM (The´Energie Domestique SARL) |
Population growth increases demand for wood
With a population density of over 499 inhabitants per km², Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa. As a reference, Germany has 237 inhabitants per km² and Kenya only 90 inhabitants per km². And the population is growing further, leading to rising demand for energy.
Exacerbating the situation is the fact that Rwanda hosts more than 149,000 refugees who have fled from violent clashes in Eastern Congo and Burundi. Due to a lack of land and resources, the refugee situation adds to the pressure on natural resources. The long cooking time for beans and maize, which are the main staples provided in the camps, adds to the problem.
Highly efficient wood stoves help reduce the demand for wood significantly and contribute to improving the living conditions of refugees. They also help in reducing the potential risk of conflict with the host communities by easing competition for the same resources. Since firewood is supplied by UNHCR and procured locally, reduced demand will make funds available for other activities.
Additionally, the project provides skills training and income opportunities. Our partners employ mainly women in the bending, assembly and distribution of the stoves. User trainings and demonstrations also bring together households to share experiences, knowledge and cooking recipes.
Higher efficiency leads to lower energy expenses
The design and construction of the efficient firewood stoves – called Save80 – makes them as easy and intuitive to use as traditional three stone fires. Compared to those, the new stove uses 80% less wood to achieve the same performance. Replacing a charcoal stove with a Save80 results in even higher wood savings because of how much wood is needed to produce charcoal (9kg of wood for 1kg of charcoal). Given the rising prices for charcoal due to high demand as well as rising production and transportation costs, Rwandan households can save substantially by using a Save80 stove.
Lower fuel expenses enable the families to spend more on other essential needs. atmosfair subsidizes the stoves so that low-income households can also afford them. The stoves can also be paid off in instalments.
To ensure the high efficiency and long service life (>10 years) of the stoves, high-quality materials (stainless steel) are used. So far, the components are prefabricated in Germany and assembled in Rwanda. Every part that can be sourced locally is sourced locally. The pots included in the set are produced in Kigali. In 2020, we took the first steps to shift the entire production of the Save80 including all its components to Rwanda. In Kigali, we are building up a stove factory with our partners. Local production reduces costs and creates employment opportunities.
Our Partners
SAFER RWANDA is a non-profit non-governmental organization (NGO) established in 2000. SaferRwanda is engaged in several peace and environmental protection projects such as solar energy, tree planting, energy saving cookstoves and disarmament of light weapons.
RWANDA WOMEN’S NETWORK is a national humanitarian NGO dedicated to promoting and improving the socio-economic welfare of women in Rwanda since 1997. Over time, the organization has worked towards developing strategies that empower women and has extensive experience in fostering women’s participation and grassroots responses to community challenges. To date, RWN works with various local and international partners and a network of over 52 grassroots associations across the country.
THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR), established by the United Nations General Assembly, is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. Currently there are more than 149,000 refugees from Congo and Burundi in Rwanda being assisted by UNHCR.
ENEDOM (ENERGIE DOMESTIQUE SARL), a small-scale enterprise located in Kigali. ENEDOM’s goal is to find new ways to supply households with alternative energies in order to support environmental protection. ENEDOM has a great stake in setting up the project in Rwanda. ENEDOM has also developed its own locally produced efficient cookstove which is currently being quality tested and test sold in Rwanda. ENEDOM also engages in the local production and selling of heat retaining cooking bags and sustainably harvested wood.
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