Improved cookstove carbon offset project in Kenya How a single technology can benefit both the environment and the local populations

The dependence on inefficient cookstoves using firewood in Kenya has far-reaching consequences on the environment, health and economic development. The CDM Program of Activities presented in this paper, aims to manufacture and distribute on the long term 100,000 improved cookstoves (called Konsava stove) to rural households in Kenya, in order to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Results of performance tests of the Konsava stove show a thermal efficiency of 24.3% and a specific fuel consumption of 147g/l. Fuel wood savings are assessed at 58.8% compared to the traditional open three stones cooking stove widely used in rural Kenya. Thus, the implementation of this new sustainable technology is expected to significantly contribute not only to the improvement of environmental conditions (climate change mitigation, reduced deforestation), but also to rural populations livelihoods (improvement of indoor air quality, savings of money and/or time collecting firewood).