Energy Efficient Cookstoves

Tembea Youth Centre for Sustainable Development is supporting rural households in Siaya County, Kenya, with energy-efficient cookstoves that reduce firewood use by 40–50%. Traditionally, families relied on open fires using wood and charcoal, which consumed large amounts of fuel, caused harmful smoke emissions, and contributed to deforestation and CO₂ emissions. The improved cookstove—a biomass rocket stove with two cooking units—is built from locally available materials such as mud, bricks, and sawdust. By training local artisans in stove construction and household mobilization, the project not only eases the burden of firewood collection on women and children but also improves indoor air quality, lowers household expenses, and supports climate change mitigation.