Reduced Indoor Air Pollution but Increased Cooking Time and Fuelwood Consumption of Improved Local Cookstoves in Asuogyaman, Ghana: Implications for Appropriate Stove Design

Abstract

The intense wood extraction and use in traditional stone fires (TSF) for cooking in the Asuogyaman district in Ghana are associated with deforestation and indoor air pollution (IAP). Therefore, efforts have been made by the volta river authority (VRA) to provide improved local cookstoves christened "climate-smart stoves" to inhabitants of this region. However, these improved cookstoves (ICS) were designed to hold two cooking pots concurrently, contrary to the typical traditional cooking practice of using one pot in the Asuogyaman District. Although this may impact the performance of ICS compared to TSF in terms of reducing cooking time, fuel use and IAP, to date, limited information exists about this impact. This field study evaluated the performance of ICS relative to TSF using the controlled cooking test (CCT) protocol. The CCT involved 10 ICS and 10 TSF households. The test results show that the indoor CO and PM_2.5 concentrations were 5.470 ± 4.668, and 0.451 ± 0.328 mg/m³, respectively, for ICS and 13.485 ± 10.925, and 0.867 ± 0.839 mg/m³ for TSF. Compared to TSF, ICS increased cooking time and fuel use by 78% and 46%, respectively. The findings reveal that aside from efficiency, it is essential to prioritize traditional cooking practices and users' needs when designing improved cookstoves. In conclusion, we assert that ICS contributes significantly to reducing respiratory health issues thus making it ideal for cooking among rural folks. To reduce cooking time and fuel use for ICS however, we recommend that the stove be redesigned in terms of the material used for its construction and the number of pot- holes.