Improving health, quality of life and fighting climate change in rural Uttar Pradesh & Maharashtra
Traditional wood-burning stoves represented a massive problem for many families and for the environment. As well as contributing to indoor pollution, causing several health issues mainly among women and children, who are overwhelmingly responsible for running the household, most families have to walk up to 5 km to collect firewood and it is heavy on the families’ budget. The reliance on wood for cooking puts pressure on surrounding forests, leading to degraded lands and increased desertification.
To learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals verified by the standard for this project, please check the project's registry link above.
To date, the project has installed over 15,000 smart biogas systems to rural families across Uttar Pradesh & Maharashtra. The digesters are fed with cow dung and organic kitchen waste to produce biogas, this gas is then piped to a thermal stove, providing thermal energy for cooking and boiling water, on demand. The biogas systems are long-lasting, easy to install and maintain, and do not cost money to run.
By replacing inefficient wood-fired mud stoves, with clean, sustainable and efficient biogas, this project is reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving indoor air quality. Pressure on surrounding forests is alleviated as people have access to a reliable renewable energy source when they need it. The project is also increasing hygiene standards in rural areas, by offering a safe way to dispose of waste, namely cow dung and kitchen waste, which are otherwise left to decay. The residue from the biodigesters is used as a powerful organic fertilizer, which significantly improves soil conditions.
