Using Design Thinking to Improve Cook Stoves Development in Mexico

Elena Ferriz Bosque,Berta Suarez,Alberto Beltrán,Víctor Berrueta,Gregorio Romero Rey,Omar Masera,Luisa Muneta

doi:10.3390/su13073843

Abstract

A traditional use of bioenergy is the main source of residential energy in developing countries, essentially using firewood to cook, boil water or heating affecting people in developing countries. Improved cook stoves are more efficient and less polluting, and there is a need to evaluate different design options to facilitate their adoption. There are different types of very economical improved cookstoves with high combustion efficiency. In Mexico, multiple projects about cook stoves have been carried out, the root of this study being one of them: the Patsari cook stoves. The goal of this project was to modify previous stove designs to align with local people’s habits and traditions. This study shows the importance of including the participation of users in the design of the portable model of Patsari cook stoves, applying the Design Thinking methodology. Many designs or design changes have been carried out on cook stoves by different researchers, but users often do not adapt to them. This article, through a field study, shows the importance of integrating theoretical analyses along with user experiences to facilitate the adoption of improved cook stoves and ensure their success.

Highlights

IntroductionThe current scope and expected evolution of traditional bioenergy use are closely linked to several key challenges to sustainable development, from both local and global environmental concerns to health and gender issues to ensure universal access to clean energy
Sustainability 2021, 13, 3843. https://Bioenergy is referred to as a type of renewable energy, which is obtained from biomass.The current scope and expected evolution of traditional bioenergy use are closely linked to several key challenges to sustainable development, from both local and global environmental concerns to health and gender issues to ensure universal access to clean energy.Approximately, 2800 million people in the world burn solid biofuels to satisfy basic energy needs, representing more than half of the population of developing countries [1].Undeveloped and developing countries use bioenergy as their main residential energy source
This study developed a new model of the portable-metallic Patsari cook stove, which was optimally adapted to the user needs and achieved a higher efficiency and less polluting emissions

Summary

Introduction

The current scope and expected evolution of traditional bioenergy use are closely linked to several key challenges to sustainable development, from both local and global environmental concerns to health and gender issues to ensure universal access to clean energy. Undeveloped and developing countries use bioenergy as their main residential energy source. They use in a traditional stove, a three-stone structure which support the pot [2]. This burning can result in an incomplete combustion process that emits pollutants that damage health directly, such as particulate matter and carbon monoxide, which contributes to high rates of morbidity and mortality [3].

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