Source Of Energy For Cooking Research Articles

The challenges associated with firewood supply and analysis of fuel quality parameters of the tree species used as firewood in Rwanda

Firewood serves as an essential cooking energy source for households in Rwanda. However, the supply of firewood is hindered by various challenges, such as escalating scarcity, long distances traveled to collect firewood, and reliance on low-quality biomass during shortages. This study aimed to assess the challenges associated with firewood supply and analyze the fuel quality of tree species used as firewood in Rwanda, using systematic sampling with 504 and 368 farmers, respectively, in Bugesera and Musanze Districts. The results indicated that women and children are predominantly involved in firewood collection, with households traveling over 9 kilometers for firewood collection and spending 5 to 8 hours per collection session. Additionally, 42% and 43% of households in Bugesera and Musanze Districts gather firewood twice weekly. The most preferred species for firewood were Eucalypts spp, Senna spectabilis, Grevillea robusta, and Alunus acuminata due to their rapid drying, low smoke production, and efficient fuel qualities. The fuel quality analysis indicated that Eucalyptus spp., Grevillea robusta, Croton megalocarpus, Alnus acuminata, and Senna spectabilis exhibit a substantial promising bioenergy characteristic that points to their potential for sustainable energy production. The study advocates for strategically incorporating high fuel qualities, rapid growth, and regeneration of tree species into trees-based systems in the agricultural landscape to ensure a sustainable firewood supply while mitigating forest degradation.

PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOBRIQUETTE FROM BIOMASS OF MANGO LEAF, SAW DUST AND RICE HUSK AS EFFICIENT ENERGY SOURCES FOR COOKING

The increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions has driven interest in alternative biomass sources for energy production. This study investigates the production and characterization of bio briquettes made from different biomass of mango leaves, sawdust, and rice huskusing limestone as binder. The objective is to evaluate the potential of these biomass materials as efficient energy sources for cooking. The bio briquettes were produced using a standard briquetting process, involving mixing, compaction, and drying. Various parameters including ultimate and proximate composition, calorific value, bulk density, hardness and durability as well as mechanical and combustion properties were analyzed to assess their performance. The results demonstrated that the bio briquettes exhibited high calorific values between 20753 to 20506 KJ/kg and high percentage of fixed carbon between 4.18 to 5.58 % which generally indicates good fuel performance.The results also indicated that the bio briquettes has low Sulphur content and high volatile matter content between 50.53 to 62.84 % an indication that they are ecofriendly and can easily burn to yield energy. The bio briquettes of mango leaves, sawdust, and rice husk not only leverages agricultural waste but also contributes to reducing dependency on non-renewable energy sources. This research underscores the potential of utilizing locally available biomass for sustainable energy solutions and offers insights into improving the efficiency of bio briquette production.

Valorization and optimization of Prosopis africana pod and cowpea husk wastes for densified hybrid briquette production

Biomass is an eco-friendly alternative sustainable renewable energy source when agricultural wastes are effectively utilized. It has become critical to assess the suitability of biofuel briquettes as an energy source for cooking, electricity, and fuel for heating. Certainly, the integration of energy sources into energy policies is warranted, considering the huge potential to provide energy for rural communities and the peri-urban poor with alternative fuel. This research describes a technique to generate densified hybrid solid biofuels from biomass waste and valorize them. Prosopis africana pod (PAP) and cowpea husk (CPH) wastes were combined to create high-energy-density fuel briquettes. The experiment involves improving briquette manufacturing parameters using response surface methodology to better understand the impacts of particle sizes, composition, binder concentrations, and densification pressures on briquette performance. The optimal conditions were particle size 150 µm, 50% PAP, 10% binder concentration, and densification pressure 103.42 kN/m2. The optimum values for burning rate, ignition time, specific fuel consumption, and heating value were 0.35 g/min, 2.75 min, 0.186 g/L, and 22.98 MJ/kg, respectively. The findings show the potential for using PAP and CPH biomass waste to produce environmentally friendly energy sources. This increases the potential agro-waste feedstocks for bioenergy in developing countries, reducing energy insecurity while promoting waste management, renewable energy generation, and environmental sustainability.

Cooking Energy, Health, and Happiness of Women in Nigeria

This study utilizes novel data to investigate the impact of cooking energy sources and indoor air pollution on the happiness, life satisfaction, physical, and mental health of women in Nigeria. The existing body of literature relies on ambient air pollution data, which can be limiting in resource-constrained settings. To address this gap, we employ a direct approach, measuring Carbon Monoxide (CO) levels in participants’ blood using the Rad-57 CO-oximeter. Our analysis reveals strong positive correlations between the utilization of clean cooking energy and women’s reported happiness and life satisfaction. Additionally, the study finds that clean cooking energy usage is associated with a significant reduction in mental health problems among women. These findings highlight a substantial disparity in well-being based on access to clean cooking energy sources. Furthermore, exposure to carbon monoxide, as measured in this study, demonstrates a detrimental effect on women’s health and overall well-being. Consequently, policymakers and stakeholders should prioritize initiatives that promote household energy access and facilitate the transition to clean cooking practices, especially in rural areas where the use of polluting fuels and exposure to indoor air pollution remain prevalent concerns. JEL Classification: D12, I31, I100, Q420.

Intention to use alternative cooking energy among households of Northeastern Nigeria

Energy is one of the global challenges attracting more concern at both local and international levels due to its impact on health and the environment. Ensuring accessibility to sustainable, affordable, reliable and modern energy is one of the SDG goals intended to be achieved before 2030. The standard of living of a family is determined by the type of energy and pattern of its utilization by the households. However, many households in developing countries are not using alternative energy sources despite their abundance and potential. This study investigates the predominant energy sources and drivers of intention to use alternative ones as cooking energy among households in Northeastern Nigeria. Three hundred and thirty-nine (339) households were selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure for the study, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The result revealed that firewood and charcoal were the dominant energy sources used for cooking by households (63.13 % and 52.37 %, respectively) due to their relatively low cost and ease of access. Electricity, LPG, and solar are the cooking energy sources that over 90 % of households are willing to adopt as alternatives. The ease of using the alternative cooking energy sources their availability and accessing energy information via radio, NGOs and universities/research institutions affect the household's intention to use alternative cooking energy sources in a positive way. Ensuring a constant supply of electricity, subsidizing solar PV, making LPG available and affordable to households, provision of clean and modern stoves at a subsidized price and collaboration with universities, NGOs for awareness creation will help reduce deforestation and over-dependence on firewood, thereby protecting the health and the environment.

Utilization of unimproved energy sources and associated factors among households in Bishoftu town, Ethiopia: implications for climate change and health concerns

IntroductionThe use of unimproved energy sources is associated with a range of health problems. However, in Ethiopia, studies focused on the utilization of unimproved energy sources and associated factors are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to close this gap.MethodsIn this community-based cross-sectional study, 5,350 participants were enrolled. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the associations between the utilization of unimproved energy sources and the predictor variables. Additionally, the chi-square test was used to examine the association between households' unimproved energy source utilization and the occurrence of health problems.ResultsIn this study, 45% of households used unimproved energy sources. In the multivariable analysis, households headed by men (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.76; with 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66, 0.87), households headed by illiterate heads (AOR = 1.77 with 95% CI 1.47, 2.14), household family size (AOR = 0.79 with 95% CI 0.79, 0.93), households headed with farmers (AOR = 3.33 with 95% CI 2.31, 4.81), households with low income (AOR = 3.41 with 95% CI 2.57, 4.51), rural households (AOR = 7.94 with 95% CI 6.76, 9.32), and households with regular coffee ceremony practices (AOR = 1.17 with 95% CI 1.00, 1.36) were significantly associated with the utilization of unimproved energy sources. Additionally, the results of the chi-square test revealed that households that relied on unimproved energy sources had a 1.5-fold greater risk of developing respiratory illnesses, an 8.5-fold greater risk of developing cataract disease, and a 5.2-fold greater risk of developing trachoma than households that used improved energy sources.ConclusionA significant proportion of households in Bishoftu town still rely on unimproved energy sources for cooking and other household needs. This indicates a substantial challenge in achieving universal access to clean and sustainable energy in the area. Several socioeconomic and demographic factors are associated with the use of unimproved energy sources, including male-headed households, illiteracy of household head, smaller family size, farming occupation, low income, rural residence, and regular coffee ceremony practices. Most importantly, the use of unimproved energy sources is associated with higher risks of respiratory illnesses, cataracts, and trachoma among household members. Therefore, the government should implement targeted interventions to promote the adoption of clean and improved energy sources among vulnerable households such as households headed by farmers, those with illiterate heads, households with low socioeconomic status, households with regular coffee ceremony practices, and those in rural areas. In addition, the local government should develop and implement educational campaigns to raise awareness about the health and environmental risks associated with the use of unimproved energy sources, particularly among households with high-risk factors identified in the study.

Investigating the Consequence s of Energy Transitions in Protracted Displacement Settings: Solid Fuel Dependency and IDPs’ Readiness

Abstract Looking beyond cooking energy provision in humanitarian response, interventions define the course of the internally displaced people’s (IDPs) livelihood. Energy transition in displacement settings often puts the bar high as the outputs are aimed to provide full use of low emission, healthy, clean cooking energy sources. By gathering data from protracted temporary settlements inhabited since 2012 by those affected by the Mount Sinabung eruption in Karo Regency, Indonesia, the purpose of this study is to look into how Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are switching to greener energy sources for cooking. A framework for determining energy choice at the household size was employed to depict the overview of energy use in cooking, taking into account the effects of the transition. The case of Sinabung displacement offered a perspective of the prolonged IDPs on humanitarian energy interventions and the national ecosystem toward clean energy behaviour. Even though Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) penetration is subsidized, a protracted displacement situation in Sinabung still reveals solid fuel dependencies. The LPG subsidy program, which was poorly planned, and the lack of readiness of IDPs to purchase and use new alternative cooking energy were the biggest obstacles to the overall transition process and caused the fuel stacking phenomenon to persist.

THERMAL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF INCORPORATING A BIOMASS COMBUSTION CHAMBER AS A BACKUP SYSTEM IN BOX-TYPE SOLAR COOKERS

Solar cookers are devices that allow cooking by using free solar energy. However, they cant operate during cloudy periods or at night. Theincorporating of biomass combustion chamber (hybrid cooker solar-biomass) is an alternative that uses an endogenous and renewable energy source for ecological and economical cooking. In this work, the performances of a hybrid cooker (solar-biomass) are evaluated. The experimental results obtained indicate that the absorber plate reached a maximum temperature of 120,62 °C 1,5°C. Moreover, the maximum power of the cooker was 83.04 W with an efficiency of 30,34 % in solar mode, 28,4 % in biomass mode and 12.27% ±0.002% in hybrid mode. During cloudy periods or in the absence of solar radiation, the use of 0.25 kg of charcoal allows maintaining the absorber temperature around 150°C for more than 2 hours, ensuring continuity of cooking. The first and second figure of merit parameters performed are 0.1043 and 0.2732 respectively. The results obtained are conclusive in both solar and biomass mode.

Instruments for Supporting Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals for Construction Sector – Case of Poland

Currently, three billion people face dangerous levels of air pollution and rely on non-renewable energy sources for cooking and heating. Due to its environmental impact, the construction sector is a particularly important area for implementing sustainable development policies. On July 10, 2023, the UN published The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023 (SDGs). In accordance with the provisions of Goal 7 (which was discussed in the above document), the international community should increase its share of renewable energy sources in the global energy mix and promote investment in clean energy technologies by 2030. Achieving this goal necessitates the introduction of support mechanisms to enhance the energy efficiency of residential buildings. Hence, this study aims to showcase the legal and financial tools that aid the growth of energy-efficient construction in Poland, to compare the renovation costs of an existing residential building in order to meet energy-efficiency standards, and to detail the financial support that is available for planned thermal-modernization efforts.

Investigating the determinants of household energy consumption in Nigeria: insights and implications

BackgroundThe present study draws motivation from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and explores the nexus between access to modern cooking energy sources, responsible energy consumption, climate change mitigation, and economic growth. Using 2018 demographic and health survey data, the study examines the influence of key socioeconomic and demographic factors on household choice of cooking energy in Nigeria.ResultsThe empirical results show that traditional energy sources are dominant among Nigerian households (74.24%) compared to modern energy sources (25.76%). Regarding energy demographics, male-headed households show more usage of modern energy sources (19.86%) compared to female-headed households (5.90%). Regional analysis reveals that the northwest region predominantly uses traditional energy sources (18.60% of the share of total traditional energy sources), while the southwest region shows the greatest usage of modern energy sources (10.52% of the share of total modern energy sources). Binary logistic regression analysis reveals the positive and statistically significant influence of wealth index, education, and geopolitical region on the likelihood of utilizing modern energy sources. Conversely, household size and place of residence indicate an inverse relationship with the likelihood of adopting modern energy sources.ConclusionsThese findings have important policy implications for energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and improving the quality of life in Nigeria, which is currently plagued with significant energy poverty, especially in rural communities.

Drivers of Rural Households’ Choices and Intensity of Sustainable Energy Sources for Cooking and Lighting in Ondo State, Nigeria

Poverty reduction and the promotion of sustainable human development are fundamentally dependent on having access to modern energy services. Energy supplies that are dependable, reasonably priced, and sustainable are vital to modern societies. In achieving the sustainable development goals (SDG7) and access to clean energy supplies, this study, using cross-sectional data from 180 randomly sampled rural households, analyzed the key factors determining the choice and intensity of energy sources used for lighting and cooking in rural Nigeria. Both descriptive and inferential statistics (multivariate probit (MVP) and zero-truncated Poisson (ZTP models)) were employed for the analyses. The result showed that there is evidence of fuel stacking in their choice of cooking and lighting energy, and it increases with rising income levels but is more pronounced for lighting than cooking. The result also revealed that reliable access to clean energy (9% of sampled households for LPG and 23% of the households for grid electricity) is very low, as these households still rely on fuelwood (70%) for cooking, but the predominant usage of kerosene (39%) for lighting, as reported in the literature, has drastically changed to dry cell battery (51%). The results using a multivariate probit model to capture the multiple fuel usage phenomenon among rural households show that access to clean energy, improvement in rural poverty, usage of indoor kitchens, household size, and an increase in the education of household heads’ spouses significantly influence the use of clean energy in the rural areas. In the same vein, the result of the ZTP model showed that income, access to energy sources, and occupation of the household head were the drivers of the intensity of cooking and lighting energy sources. Thus, it is recommended that any policy interventions that are targeted at encouraging rural households to use clean energy should start by improving rural access to these clean energy sources, improving their poverty status while also increasing the level of education and awareness of rural women concerning the risks of using dirty energy sources.

Utilization of Anaerobic Co-Digestion for Biogas Production for Institutional Cooking: A Case of Nkumbi International College

Studies have linked the use of wood fuel to deforestation leading to greenhouse gas emissions which cause climate change. Despite these concerns, some institutions located in the rural areas of Zambia like boarding schools and colleges still use firewood as a fuel for cooking and heating. Additionally, electricity, where available, is usually based on fossil fuel combustion, and often has high tariffs if connected to the national electricity grid and is also unreliable. On the other hand, biogas produced from animal and other organic wastes has demonstrated to be a cleaner alternative source of energy that can be used for cooking and supply of heat. A case of Nkumbi international college was selected to consider the economic viability of using the animal and agriculture waste from the institutional farm as a feedstock in an anaerobic co-digester to generate biogas for use as fuel for cooking to replace firewood and grid electricity, the current sources of energy for cooking. Results showed that installing a biogas system at the college and using the biogas to replace a combination of firewood and electricity is highly viable with a positive net present value of USD 19,747, a payback period of 3.1 years, and an internal rate of return of 35.5% over a period of 20 years.

Evaluation of Charcoal Usage and Its Influence on Deforestation in Makurdi Metropolis Benue State, Nigeria

Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of impure carbon obtained from vegetation substance and produced by pyrolysis, the heating of wood in the absence of oxygen. Charcoal is considered the major source of energy for the inhabitants of Makurdi metropolis. The study was conducted to assess the consumption of charcoal in Makurdi metropolis. Five council wards were selected purposively for data collection. The selected wards are noted for having large quantities of charcoal and consumers almost all year round. The wards selected are Agan, Fiidi, Wadata, Modern Market, and North Bank. From each council ward, 20 respondents were drawn using a random sampling technique. 100 respondents were selected and interviewed using a pre-tested checklist (questionnaire) to collect primary data. From the result, Prosopis africana was the highest used tree species for charcoal with 83.5% then Vitellaria paradoxa with 7.9%. Also, 88% of the respondents preferred charcoal for cooking in providing food for the family because of its affordability compared to other cooking energy sources. Therefore, it is inferred that charcoal has a positive impact on the lives of consumers since affordability is considered the main reason why the majority of households use charcoal. However, the continuous use of forest trees threatens the future of our forest estate and biodiversity leading to land degradation, endangering of species and enhancement of global warming. Therefore, Alternative energy sources should be encouraged for household fuel to ease the pressure on charcoal.

Breathe In, Breathe Out: Asthmatics and Environmental Challenges in Grand-Lome, Togo

Over recent decades, interest in the impact of climate change and air pollution on respiratory conditions has significantly increased. Despite this attention, patients, as a vulnerable group, remain relatively uninformed about the potential links between climate, pollution, and their health. This study aimed to assess the perception of asthmatics in Togo regarding the relationship between climatic variables, air pollution, and the severity of their asthma attacks. Conducted in healthcare centers in the Grand-Lome regions, the survey revealed a predominance of young adults, mainly males aged 18 to 30 years. Most participants have attained an education level ranging from high school diploma to bachelor's degree, but a significant portion has an education level below high school diploma. Regarding knowledge about climate change and air pollution, a quarter of participants have no knowledge on the subject, while a minority possess an advanced level of knowledge. Nearly half of the participants attribute their asthma attacks to climate and pollution, with critical periods being the dry season, rainy season, and harmattan, with major triggers including heat, exhaust fumes, and dust. The majority of participants use charcoal and firewood as cooking energy sources, exacerbating asthma symptoms. Although 60% of participants regularly visit healthcare centers for asthma control, nearly 40% do not, citing social beliefs that asthma is a spiritual disease and should be treated in convents or prayer places. Financial constraints also contribute to non-attendance. Among those who experienced at least 10 attacks in the last 12 months, over half have no knowledge of climate change and air pollution, mainly within the under 30 age group, highlighting the need for targeted awareness and intervention programs for this demographic.

Sustainable forest management for nut and fuelwood production in the Jalalabad region, Kyrgyzstan: insights from local communities

Jalalabad region in the Kyrgyz Republic is home to the world’s largest natural walnut (Juglans regia L.) forests and pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) forests. These nut-fruit forests serve as the primary source of income for local people; however, deforestation has led to a decline in the availability of these resources. Wood from the forest is also used as a crucial energy source for cooking and heating in this region, despite state protection of the walnut forest due to a lack of alternative energy sources. This study aimed to explore solutions to restore nut-fruit forests while providing a fuelwood source and improving the income of local people. Qualitative research methods were employed, including semi-structured interviews and survey questionnaires with farmers and central and local government officials. The study investigated the main environmental problem of forest degradation and the challenges of forest management, such as livestock and complicated lease arrangements, and determined possible government support and incentives for local communities to participate in forest rehabilitation, such as planting instead of paying lease fees. The findings indicated that a tree-based farming approach can be a promising alternative land-use solution. Seventy-four percent of local farmers expressed their readiness to plant fruit trees and fast-growing tree species to meet their demand for fuelwood and improve their livelihoods if the government can provide temporary fencing support. The study also highlighted the need for capacity building for farmers to learn proper planting, managing, and harvesting for more sustainable practices. Policymakers need to modify legislation through simplified and incentive-based forest lease arrangements.

Smoke exposure, hemoglobin levels and the prevalence of anemia: a cross-sectional study in urban informal settlement in Southern Ghana

BackgroundIn sub-Saharan African cities, more than half of the population lives in informal settlements. These settlements are close to smoky dumpsites, industrial plants, and polluted roads. Furthermore, polluting fuels remain their primary sources of energy for cooking and heating. Despite evidence linking smoke and its components to anaemia, none of these studies were conducted on populations living in urban informal settlements. This study investigated the risks of anemia/mean Haemoglobin (HB) levels in an informal settlement in Accra, Ghana. Exposure to smoke was examined across various sources, encompassing residences, neighborhoods, and workplaces.MethodsThe study was a facility-based cross-sectional design among residents at Chorkor, an informal settlement in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. A questionnaire was administered at a community hospital during an interview to gather data on sources of smoke exposure in the household, in the neighbourhood, and in the workplace. A phlebotomist collected blood samples from the participants after the interview to assess their anaemia status.ResultsThe population (n = 320) had a high prevalence of anemia, with 49.1% of people fitting the WHO’s definition of anemia, while the average HB level was 12.6 ± 2.1 g/dL. Anemia was associated with the number of different types of waste burnt simultaneously [(1 or 2: prevalence ratio (PR): 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14, 0.99–1.28: 3+: 1.16, 1.01–1.63, p-for-trend = 0.0082)], fuel stacking [(mixed stacking: 1.27, 1.07–1.20: dirty stacking:1.65, 1.19–2.25, p-for-trend = 0.0062)], and involvement in fish smoking (1.22, 0.99–1.06). However, the lower limit of the CIs for number of different forms of garbage burned simultaneously and engagement in fish smoking included unity. Reduced mean HB levels were associated with the number of different types of waste burnt simultaneously [(1 or 2: regression coefficient (β): 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.01, -0.97- -0.99: 3+: -0.14, -0.77- -0.05)], current smoker [(yes, almost daily: -1.40, -2.01- -0.79: yes, at least once a month: -1.14, -1.79- -0.48)], Second-Hand-Smoking (SHS) (yes, almost daily: -0.77, -1.30- -0.21), fuel stacking [(mixed stacking-0.93, -1.33–0.21: dirty stacking-1.04, -1.60- -0.48)], any smoke exposure indicator in the neighbourhood (-0.84, -1.43- -0.25), living close to a major road (-0.62, -1.09- -0.49), and fish smoking (-0.41,-0.93- -0.12).ConclusionAlthough the cross-sectional design precludes causality, smoke exposure was associated with mean HB levels and anaemia among populations living in informal settlements.

Residential energy expenditures and the relevance of financial inclusion across location, wealth quintiles and household structures

This paper examines the relative role of financial inclusion in enhancing households’ ability to spend on energy consumption across rural and urban locations. It uses comprehensive household data from Ghana and employs the ordinary least square (OLS) as well as an instrumental variable estimation technique. Endogeneity of financial inclusion is instrumented using distance to the nearest bank. Our findings suggest that a standard deviation increase in financial inclusion contributes to an improvement in residential energy expenditure by 1.2835 standard deviations. This finding is robust to different methods for resolving endogeneity and alternative weighting schemes in the financial inclusion construct. Among the different sources of energy for lighting and cooking, financial inclusion increases expenditure on LPG and electricity more than the others. Financial inclusion increases the ability to spend more on residential energy in urban, poorest, and female-headed dual-parent households. Household net income is a key pathway through which financial inclusion affects residential energy expenditure.

Non-farm entrepreneurship, caste, and energy poverty in rural India

This study examines how non-farm entrepreneurship influences rural household energy poverty and explores caste-based heterogeneities in outcomes in India. The study used different quasi-experimental econometric methods to analyse panel data from the waves 1 and 2 (2015 and 2018) of the Access to Clean Cooking Energy and Electricity Survey of States (ACCESS) in India. The overall results across all estimation methods show that households' engagement in non-fam entrepreneurship significantly contributes to a reduction in their energy poverty levels and the probability of being energy poor. The sizes of the reduction vary across the four castes (General Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, and Other Backward Caste). The energy poverty reducing effect of non-farm entrepreneurship is particularly high among members of the Scheduled Tribe. Further mediation analyses reveal that non-farm entrepreneurship potentially affects rural households' energy poverty through their accumulation of financial (savings) and durable assets which possibly enable them to access cleaner energy sources for lighting and cooking. We encourage governments to pay attention to policies that promote non-farm entrepreneurship which has the potential to enhance asset accumulation and reduce rural energy poverty in the process.

Energy, Exergy, Emergy, Environment, and Economics Analysis of a Three-pot Cookstove

As per World Bank's collection of development indicators, about 65% of India's population still live in rural regions, where biomass will continue to be the primary source of energy for cooking. Consumers and governments are concerned about the amount of energy used in cooking. Furthermore, the use of biomass fuel in traditional biomass stoves has been associated with human health, with women being more susceptible to exposure to indoor air pollution and health issues during cooking. This study analysed the performance of a three-pot cookstove suitable for a family of 6 persons with respect to its energy, exergy, emergy, environment, and economics. Emergent indicators such as percent renewable (PR), emergent yield ratio (EYR), environmental load ratio (ELR), and environmental sustainability index (ESI) are accustomed to assessing the environmental load and native sustainability of biomass energy. According to Emergy indicators, the production of three-pot cooking system is more sustainable than traditional cookstove systems. Further, the p-value, standard deviation and coefficient of variance derived from the statistical analysis indicate a significant relationship between feedstock size and thermal efficiency of the developed cookstove.

Assessment of Pattern, Distribution, and Determinants of Ocular Morbidity among Residents Seeking Care at Medical Camps in Mathare Slums, Nairobi County, Kenya

Ocular morbidities are considered a major contributor of disabling conditions in both low and high resourced countries. The overall global burden of eye diseases is estimated at 61.4 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) which accounts for 4% of total Disability Adjusted Life Years. There have been strong institutional collaborations on attaining Vision 2020-right to sight, which is a global initiative aimed at reducing preventable level of blindness has enhanced institutional collaboration in fight against blindness. Some eye problems that affects people quality of life but do not result in blindness have been ignored in favor of those causing visual impairment. The residents of Mathare slums in Nairobi County, Kenya, seeking care at medical camps, were subjected to an objective eye examination aimed at ascertaining ocular morbidity patterns, causes, and distribution. A descriptive community-based cross-sectional study design was employed. The study persons were patients over ten years who presented with eye-related constraints at the medical camps. The period of study range was between October and November 2022. Results were displayed using descriptions and visualization techniques after data was imported into Excel 2010 for analysis. Results on the pattern indicated a majority of respondents (34.44%) were diagnosed with conjunctiva diseases. This was followed by 30.29% being diagnosed with refractive errors, 11.62% with the cornea, and 8.30% with lens diseases. On distribution, Conjunctiva disease (34.44%) affected most of the respondents, and the majority of these respondents (19.5%) aged between 10 and 20 years affirmed to have atopic Conjunctivitis. A refractive error also commonly affected 30.29% of the participants, with Presbyopia (7.46%) comprising the highest form of refractive error. Cataracts (7.05%) and dry eye syndrome (6.22%) were more evident among patients aged above 40 years. Most of the respondents (43.5%) were found to have pathologies resulting from developmental causes, followed by allergies (24.1%) and refraction errors (10.4%). Hypertension was the most common comorbidity in Mathare slum affecting 12.4% of the respondents; this was followed by peptic ulcer disease (5.4%), diabetes (4.6%), arthritis (2.5%), and lastly, HIV (0.41%). Results showed that ocular Morbidity in the Mathare slum was not associated with determinants like house structure material, number of house rooms, household population, and cooking energy source. It is recommended that health institutions within the Mathare slum and similar contexts be fully equipped with essential eye medications and integrate eye health education in the health facilities. Physical exercise, healthy eating, and medical approved supplements are also recommended to help prevent metabolic disorders and improve age-related eye disorders. Clinical control of existing comorbidities will aid in reducing some eye diseases like cataracts and diabetic retinopathy.