Firewood Usage Research Articles

Advances in Indoor Cooking Using Solar Energy with Phase Change Material Storage Systems

One of the key areas of the UN’s sustainable development goals is growing affordable and clean energy. Utilizing solar energy that is now accessible will significantly lessen the demand for fossil fuels. Around the world, cooking is a crucial activity for homes and uses a lot of non-renewable energy. Uncontrolled firewood usage results in deforestation, whereas using biomass-related fuels in inefficient stoves can result in smoke emanating from the kitchen and associated health issues. The benefits of solar cooking include reducing smoke-related problems and saving on fossil fuels and firewood. Applying thermal storage systems in cooking helps households have all-day cooking. This review article presents the research and development of a solar cooking system that transfers solar energy into the kitchen and integrates with the thermal energy storage system, finding the factors affecting indoor solar cooking performance. Adding portable cooking utensils helps in improved solar indoor cooking. Multiple phase change materials arranged in cascaded to store thermal energy helps in quick heat transfer rate, thus enabling better and faster cooking. A novel indoor solar cooker with an innovative arrangement of evacuated tube-based compound concentrating parabolic (CPC) collectors with a cascaded latent heat thermal energy storage system is proposed and needs to be tested under actual meteorological conditions.

Perception of the effects of firewood usage on rural women’s health in Ogun State Nigeria

The study assessed the effects of firewood usage on rural women health in Ogun State. Samples of 128 respondents were randomly selected from four local government areas of Ogun State. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. Percentages were used for data analysis. Majority of the respondents were married (91%) with a mean age of 50 years. Most of the respondents (86.7%) used firewood for cooking, the preference of the utilization of firewood over other alternatives was due to non-availability of other sources (40%) and availability of firewood (33%). Some perceived health effects on the respondents were discomfort caused by the smoke from the firewood (𝑥 ̅ = 2.81) and eyes irritation (= 2.53). The study recommended alternative energy sources that are with lesser health hazards be made readily available at subsidized rate in the rural areas since this was the major attractive driving force for the use of firewood.

Perception of the Effects of Fire Wood Usage on Rural Women’s Health in Ogun State Nigeria

The study assessed the effects of firewood usage on rural women health in Ogun State. Samples of 128 respondents were randomly selected from four local government areas of Ogun State. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. Percentages were used for data analysis. Majority of the respondents were married (91%) with a mean age of 50 years. Most of the respondents (86.7%) used firewood for cooking, the preference of the utilization of firewood over other alternatives was due to non-availability of other sources (40%) and availability of firewood (33%). Some perceived health effects on the respondents were discomfort caused by the smoke from the firewood (𝑥 ̅= 2.81) and eyes irritation (= 2.53). The study recommended alternative energy sources that are with lesser health hazards be made readily available at subsidized rate in the rural areas since this was the major attractive driving force for the use of firewood.

Modeling Household Cooking Fuel Energy Choice in Rwanda

This investigation applies a multinomial logit procedure to demonstrate decisions of fuel for cooking in Rwanda. The decisions considered are five fundamental cooking fuels: wood, charcoal, gas, lamp oil and generator; Using the Integrated Household Living Condition Surveys from 2010 up to 2017 (EICVs 2010-2017) data, the study identifies the driving forces that underpin and support the household's decision of fuel for cooking and investigates the fundamental factors that decide decision of essential cooking fuel choices in Rwanda. The descriptive results showed the higher dependency on biomass cooking fuel among Rwandan households with 84.55 percent for firewood usage and 12 percent for charcoal usage for cooking and the result multinomial logit revealed that location of living arrangement, home possession, household size, type of marriage, household income level, and type of habitant play significant role in explaining the probability of cooking fuel choices within households. Further the results show that clean energy is bound to be utilized in urban families, where household with high income more often use LPG compare to others. The study also showed that main stream of household in Rwanda depend on more on non-clean energy while cooking, and this is more pronounced in rural households.

Global Warming Potential of Nata de Coco Processing using Life Cycle Assessment Approach in CV. XYZ, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Nata de coco is a well-known product in Indonesia which processed from coconut water. In the production process, the input of raw material and energy are needed to make nata de coco which the amounts are not small, as well as the amount of waste and emission which release to the environment. This study was conducted to find out how much the environmental impact in the process of making nata de coco using LCA methodology within the gate to gate scope. Analysis is carried out using functional unit on producing 1 kg of ready-to-sell nata de coco. This study was conducted by following the LCA methodology listed in ISO 14040-14043 series. The environmental impact caused by the production process of nata de coco is presented at midpoint level concentrated on global warming potential (GWP). The findings demonstrated that 0.285 kg of CO2-eq GWP were associated with 1 kg of nata de coco and firewood usage is the major contributes to the CO2 emissions.

Respiratory health assessment and exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Mexican indigenous population.

Indoor air pollution is an important risk factor for the generation of lung diseases in developing countries. The indigenous population is particularly susceptible to be exposed to the mixture of pollutants from the biomass burning, among them, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The objective of this study was to assess respiratory health and exposure to PAHs in indigenous populations of the Huasteca Potosina in Mexico. The urinary metabolite 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) was evaluated by HPLC with fluorescence detector, the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the FEV1/FVC ratio (forced vital capacity) by spirometry in the Teenek indigenous adult population of the communities from Tocoy (TOC), Xolol (XOL), and Tanjajnec (TAN). A total of 134 subjects participated in the study: 64 from TOC, 30 from XOL, and 40 from TAN; in all the communities, high percentages of overweight and obesity were presented (from 50 to 73%). The average hours of firewood usage per year were 281.06, 284.6, and 206.6 in TOC, XOL, and TAN, respectively. The average of the three communities of the % FEV1 post-bronchodilator was 86.1%. There were identified from 4.5 to 6.6% and from 12.5 to 15.5% of spirometric obstructive and restrictive patterns respectively, in all communities. The highest exposure levels reported as median were found in TOC (1.15 μmol/mol of creatinine) followed by TAN (0.94 μmol/mol of creatinine) and XOL (0.65 μmol/mol of creatinine). Considering the magnitude of the indigenous population exposed to pollutants from the biomass burning and the possible effects on respiratory health, it is important to design strategies that mitigate exposure and evaluate the effectiveness through biological monitoring and effects.

Determining the Enablers and Barriers for the Adoption of Clean Cookstoves in the Middle Belt of Ghana-A Qualitative Study.

Despite its benefits and espousal in developed counties, the adoption of clean cookstoves is reportedly low in less developed countries, especially in Sub–Saharan Africa. This qualitative study aimed at exploring and documenting the enablers and barriers for adoption of clean cookstove in the middle belt of Ghana. The findings showed convenience of clean cookstove use, reduced firewood usage, less smoke emission and associated health problems resulting from indoor air pollution and time for firewood gathering and cooking, good smell and taste of food as enabling factors for clean cookstove adoption. Factors such as safety, financial constraint (cost), non-availability of spare parts on the open market to replace faulty stove accessories, stove size and household size were the potential barriers to clean cookstove adoption. These findings help us to understand the factors promoting and inhibiting the adoption of clean cook stoves, especially in rural settings.

Exposure to firewood: Consequences for health and labor force participation in Mexico

Indoor air pollution (IAP) originating from firewood used as cooking fuel relates to respiratory problems and can generate economic losses. IAP is associated with 1.6 million deaths worldwide annually. We assess the mechanisms behind the cooking fuel choice – in particular, firewood or LPG –, if the exposure to IAP due to firewood usage causes respiratory problems, and if this has implications for the probability to participate in the labor market. A small economic-theoretical model is proposed in which an individual maximizes utility generated by the fuel choice, consumption, health status, and the time dedicated to health and leisure, under financial and time constraints. For an empirical test, we use the 2002 Mexican Family Life Survey (MxFLS), estimating a trivariate recursive probit model. Our study finds that the usage of firewood as the household's fuel for cooking results in an increased prevalence of respiratory problems among women (but not among men), probably related to the traditional duties in the household. In the labor participation decision, we find a negative impact of respiratory problems on participation; hence, especially for women we find a strong causal channel from exposure to IAP to health problems to a reduction of labor force participation. A possible policy to break the circle of negative effects could involve the provision of improved firewood or LPG stoves that provoke less pollution and therefore reduces the health risks.

Firewood usage and indoor air pollution from traditional cooking fires in Gazi Bay, Kenya

Firewood usage and indoor air pollution from traditional cooking fires in Gazi Bay, Kenya

Perception of Traditional Small Scale Brick-making owner on firewood usage for Brick-making process

Traditional brick-making industry – traditional kilns that use firewood as burning fuel have been assumed to be energy-inefficient and polluting and may have negative influence on global warming and environmental sustainability. This study was intended to investigate small scale traditional brick-making owner's perception on firewood usage in relation to environmental sustainability. Ten small scale brick-making owners were selected randomly to be depth-interviewed.The results reveal that brick-making owners have had awareness on environmental issues and realize the drawback of firewood usage but, they find that it is still difficult and expensive to find another source fuel to fire their brick kiln.

Profiling Space Heating Behavior in Chilean Social Housing: Towards Personalization of Energy Efficiency Measures

Global increases in the demand for energy are imposing strong pressures over the environment while compromising the capacity of emerging economies to achieve sustainable development. In this context, implementation of effective strategies to reduce consumption in residential buildings has become a priority concern for policy makers as minor changes at the household scale can result in major energy savings. This study aims to contribute to ongoing research on energy consumer profiling by exploring the forecasting capabilities of discrete socio-economic factors that are accessible through social housing allocation systems. Accordingly, survey data gathered by the Chilean Ministry of Social Development was used identify key characteristics that may predict firewood usage for space heating purposes among potential beneficiaries of the Chilean social housing program. The analyzed data evidences strong correlations between general household characteristics and space heating behavior in certain climatic zones, suggesting that personalized delivery of energy efficiency measures can potentially increase the effectiveness of initiatives aimed towards the reduction of current patterns of consumption.

The impact of the household decision environment on fuel choice behavior

Consumer preferences for fuels and alternative cookstove technologies in Kenya are examined, focusing on household internal and external determinants driving choice behavior in a choice experiment. The potential for a transition towards cleaner and more efficient fuels and technologies is assessed by zooming in on three fuel-stove combinations. We find substantial demand and positive willingness to pay for the fuel-stove combinations in three locations representing different decision environments. Demand is significantly higher in the peri-urban and the resource abundant rural location than in the resource scarce rural location. The presence of better developed consumer markets for fuels in these locations functions as an important driver for cookstove adoption. Although charcoal and ethanol stoves are preferred over improved firewood stoves, continued firewood usage is expected. Energy switching behavior cannot be substantiated. Instead, energy stacking is more likely, where charcoal and ethanol add to and extend a household’s energy portfolio.

Relationship between firewood usage and urinary Cr, Cu and As in informal areas of Cape Town

The study investigated whether wood usage by informal food vendors and household residents in Cape Town results in the absorption of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu) owing to release of these metals in the burning of chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood. The participants (N=78) selected included an equal number of food vendors and non-vendors from 2 informal settlements. All participants answered a questionnaire concerning exposure and were tested for urinary Cr, Cu and As, while the urine of 29 participants was also tested for toxic As (As(tox)). Multivariate analysis showed that the time spent in close proximity to the wood, as well as the quantity of wood used for cooking and for household use, was weakly positively associated with urinary levels of As, Cr and the sum of As, Cr and Cu. The study provides evidence that use of wood likely to contain CCA as a fuel for informal food outlets and household purposes may increase the absorption of inorganic As, Cu and Cr.

Uso de especies forestales asociadas a bosques de roble (Quercus Humboldtii Bonpl.), con fines energéticos, en tres veredas del Municipio de Encino-Santander

La revista Colombia Forestal publica manuscritos originales en temáticas del campo forestal y diversos aspectos de los recursos naturales y del medio ambiente, los cuales se discriminan en las categorías de artículo de investigación, de revisión, de reflexión y notas técnicas de acuerdo con lo estipulado por COLCIENCIAS para las publicaciones científicas. De acuerdo a la clasificación de áreas científicas de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico (OCDE), la revista Colombia Forestal pertenece al gran área de Ciencias Agrícolas(4), área de Agricultura, Silvicultura y Pesca(4A) y a la disciplina Forestal (4A02).

Residential use of firewood in Northern Sweden and its influence on forest biomass resources

Firewood is society’s oldest source of household energy and is still extensively used around the world. However, little is known about firewood usage in technologically advanced countries with high energy consumption. Some key issues include quantities of firewood currently used and future trends, as well as the influence of this usage on available biomass resources. This study addresses those issues through a postal questionnaire to 1500 of the firewood using households in a region in Northern Sweden. One-third of households produced 11-20 solid m3 of firewood per year. Three-fourths expected their production to be unchanged or increase during the coming five years. A large proportion of young producers indicated long-term continuation of firewood usage. Half (53%) of the firewood producing households owned forest and thereby had free access to wood. Produced firewood volume corresponded to 4-8% of the region’s roundwood volume harvested for industrial purposes. The use of firewood is suggested to influence decisions of private forest owners about management and harvest of forest biomass, and, thus, affect supply for bioenergy and other uses. With further incorporation of firewood usage into forest biomass management regimes, larger biomass quantities are likely to be available for industrial uses.