Improved Cook Stoves (ICS)

Training for capacity building in ICS 

Training for capacity building in ICS 

ICS  uses in community functions

ICS training program and some display of models ( GTZ sponsored)

ICS uses for cooking in typical rural household in Bangladesh  ( GTZ sponsored)

Village Education Resource Center (VERC)

Improved Cookstove Programme

The goal of the National Network on Improved Cookstove Program in Bangladesh is to make the ICS Network efficient and effective in Bangladesh, and to promote the ICS activities to improve the health of the cookstove users especially mothers and children and to prevent ecological degradation through popularization of improved cookstoves.
 

Program Summary

1. Name of the Project: National Network on Improved Cookstoves Program in Bangladesh
Name of the Donor: Asia regional Cookstove Program (ARECOP)- Indonesia
VERC has been working in ICS project since 1987. It formed ICS network in 2000 with the support of ARECOP–Indonesia. Phase-II started in August 2000 and ended February 2004 and phase-III started from March 2004 and will end December 2007. The network involves 84 NGOs working over 28 districts in the country and has a committee headed by VERC.

The main focus of the project is to build up capacity of the network organizations as well as community people and popularize ICS through different meeting, seminar, workshop, film show etc. IEC materials such as poster, leaflet, magazines and video film are developed and distributed among the stakeholders. Research on improved cookstove and health is also carried out. Seed money is awarded to support the extension of ICS activities in new areas and to encourage innovation for new sustainable approaches.

In addition to that, VERC is also implementing “A Pilot Project on Methodology for Participatory Assessment on Cookstove Program” with the support of ARECOP – Indonesia. Unnayan Dhara, IDEA and SDE are jointly implementing the above mentioned project in four different areas in Savar, Jhenaidah and Sylhet

VERC has been implementing the project titled “Reduction of Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution through Household Energy and Behavioral Improvement” with the financial support of Winrock International since August 2005 in two municipalities-Saidpur and Parbatipur-located in the Rajshahi division in north-west Bangladesh. The overall goal of the project is to develop and demonstrate a household energy intervention model that integrates health and energy aspects, and leads to alleviation of indoor air pollution and improved energy efficiency.
 

Major Achievements:

A National Seminar on Impact of Indoor Air Pollution on Child and Mother Health was organized at the VERC Training Complex, B-30 Ekhlas Uddin Road, Anandapur, Savar, Dhaka on 15 December 2005. A total of 65 participants from local, national and international NGOs and Govt. officials attended the seminar. Md. Yakub Hossian, Deputy Executive Director of VERC, chaired the seminar. Dr. Rokeya Akter Khanum, PD, IFRD was present as Chief Guest while Dr.M.Khalequzzaman, Energy consultant, GTZ was present as special guest. Mrs. Nurun Naher Begum, Senior Scientific Officer of Institute of Fuel Research and Development (IFRD) presented the keynote paper entitled “Impact of Indoor Air Pollution on Child and Mother Health”.

Network Meeting:

1. A Meeting of the National Network on Improved Cookstove Program was held on 15 December 2005 at VERC Training Complex, B-30 Ekhlas Uddin Road, Anandapur, Savar, Dhaka. A total of 58 representatives from local, national and international NGOs, different Govt. officials and interested individuals attended the meeting. Shaikh A. Halim, Executive Director of VERC, chaired the meeting.
2. Two Executive Committee Meetings were held on 8 July 2006 & 23 October 2005 at the VERC Training Complex, B-30 Ekhlas Uddin Road, Anandapur, Savar, Dhaka. The total numbers of participant’s were 14 & 17 respectively and the purpose of the meeting is to strengthen the network activities and to better achievement of program.
 

Training of Trainers on ICS Technology:

A TOT on Kitchen Improvement was organized during 27-31 December 2005 at VERC Training Complex. Total participants of the training were 25 (12 male and 13 female) and the training course facilitated by Mr. Masud Hassan, Associate Coordinator, Monitoring, WatSan & Technology, VERC and Dr. Sanwar Hossain Khan, Consultant, VERC Mother & Child Hospital.

2. A Refreshers Training on ICS Technology was also organized during 20-22 December 2005 at VERC Training Complex. 25 participants were participated in the training and the training course facilitated by Md. Amirul Islam, APC of VERC, Ms. Mahfuza Khanam, PSO, IFRD & Aryanto Sudjarwo, ARECOP.

3. Training on Entrepreneurship Development for Entrepreneurs was organized at VERC, Saidpur during 28 Mach – 01 April 2006. A total of 18 (4 M, 14F) participants participated in the training. Mr. R.P Saha, Coordination of Research and Evaluation Section, VERC and Mr. Khondakar Faisal, Trainer, FSVGD Project facilitated the training courses.
 

Training of Trainers on Methodology for Participatory Assessment (MPA):

An orientation on MPA was or was organized at VERC Training Complex from 27 Feb’06 - 07 March ’06. A total of 11 participants from different organizations attended the training. Mr. Subash Chandra Saha, Coordinator, Training & Communication Section of Training Section and Mr. Faijullah, ED of SDE facilitated the training .

Small Initiative Fund/ Seed Money:

Small initiative fund was awarded to potential NGOs to support them in their unique ideas for extension of ICS activities in areas where there is no ICS intervention or to promote new sustainable approaches. The following NGOs were the recipient of fund.
1. SPMP-Rajbari
2. Prantic-Mymensigh
3. WDP-Gaibadha
4. SOVA-Boghra
5. PGS-Jessore
6. OPCA-Chittagonj
7. ABAS-Barisal

In addition, there are some significant achievements of the network:

* 292 staff and community people were oriented on ICS technology.
* 858 catalysts were developed
* 535 orientation courses on ICS technology were organized
* 1000 Film Shows were organized
* 14 seminar and workshop were arranged at the community level
* 07 demonstration centers were established
* IEC materials such as poster, leaflet, magazines and video CD on Improved Cookstove have been developed and distributed among the stakeholders
* Executive Committee Meeting, Sharing Meeting, Community Meeting were organized
* 12454 improved cookstoves were installed
* 10 kitchens were developed

Sommilito Promila Mohila Parishad (SPMP), a network partner of VERC-ICS Network program has been implementing the ICS program in Rajbari district. A local potter in the project area was innovated one kind of special chimney made by clay. The chimney is fit with the ICS to make the kitchen free from smoke.

At the beginning of the Reduction of Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution through Household Energy and Behavioral Improvement project a Participatory Baseline Study on Household Energy use and cooking practices conducted in 5 Wards of Saidpur & Parbatipur during 1-15 February 2006. The baseline PRA conducted by Mr. Abu Naser, Consultant, PPS – Bangladesh & Mr. Subash Chandra Saha, Coordinator, Training & Communication Section of VERC. The objectives of the baseline PRA is to,

•  Assess the present status of stove and fuel use in the household and find out the alternative and available technologies and accessibilities and affordability of HH
•  Review the status of knowledge and practice of the HH in the use of energy and stoves and its possible impact on the economy, environment and health
•  Appraise the business and entrepreneurship development opportunities related to Cook stove
•  Examine the involvement of the concern government department/institution in dealing with the matter
• After completion of the PRA, a qualitative report has prepared and forwarded to concern authorities.

SUCCESS

Mamudpur villages of Saghata upazila under Gaibandha district has declared as 100% ICS Coverage Village on 7 May 2006. In can be mentioned here that a Network Partner of VERC named Women Development Program (WDP) has been implementing the ICS program in this area with the financial and technical help of VERC.

1. A Technical Manual of  Improved Cooking Stoves   

(Download  pdf   )

3. German Technical Cooperation(GTZ) :

Sustainable Energy for Development (SED)

Killer in the kitchen : The best immediate way of addressing the urgent problems is the rapid and widespread introduction of improved cook stoves: stoves burn biomass more efficiently and - even more importantly are designed to drew of the smokes and toxins, thus creating safe environment for women and children. This programme Sustainable Energy for Development (SED), supported by Bangladesh Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GTZ, intends to do just that.

Please find details here [ 1395.07 kb ]

Picture gallery of ICS

Typical  ICS in rural house hold  of  Bangladesh

Typical  ICS in rural house hold  of  Bangladesh

Typical  ICS in rural house hold  of  Bangladesh

Typical  ICS in rural house hold  of  Bangladesh

Typical  ICS in rural house hold  of  Bangladesh

Typical  ICS in rural house hold  of  Bangladesh

Typical  ICS in rural house hold  of  Bangladesh

Improved Cook Stoves (ICS)

Installation of domestic & Institutional lCSs are ongoing. Please contact for your ICS. ICS cuts down the fuel cost more than half & bring aristocracy in your kitchen & living style.  

HILFUL FUJUL SAMAJ KALL VAN SANGSTHA

5/12, Humayun Road (2nd floor), Block -B Mohammadpur, Dhaka - 1207, Bangladesh

Phone & Fax: 88-02- 9146206,

Cell ph.: 01552479826, 0167 8121383

Dissemination of Improved Cook Stoves (ICS) Improved Cook Stove (ICS) is a modification of the traditional stoves which is efficient enough to cut the fuel cost down to more than 50% off. It reduces the cause of indoor air pollution and associated health hazard by removing biomass smoke during cooking.

The reserves of fossil fuel such as coal, petrol, kerosene are depleting day by day & their prices are increasing beyond the reach of general people. In this situation, renewable energy & energy efficiency is the core concern of the development actors of the present time. An 'Improved Cook Stove-(ICS)' which cut down the fuel cost more than half is a light of hope for the people who use fuel wood or animal dung for cooking or heating.  

In an estimate about 40 million tones of biomass fuel is required every year for cooking in our country. Supply of such a large quantity of biomass might have a high pressure on the forest and environment. Besides biomass smoke also causes indoor air pollution, as it is the major source of public health hazard, particularly to the poor and vulnerable women and children. Improve Cook Stoves (ICS) may cut down the use of biomass fuel to more than half due to its higher energy efficiency. So it will prevent the further environmental degradation by reducing the use of fire wood. ICS also removes smoke, the causes of indoor air pollution, through a exhaust pipe.

Bangladesh is an energy starved country. Efficient use of energy is a key component towards poverty reduction. 90% of Bangladeshis cook with Biomass. Biomass fuel in traditional stoves, which utilize biomass fuel very inefficiently and cause energy loss & health hazards to users. To improve the cooking efficiency and minimize the fuel cost and to mitigate health hazard, Hilful Fuzul has started the Disseminate of Improved Cooke Stoves by the Technical & Financial Support of 'German Agency for Technical Cooperation-GTZ'.

The materials used for the installation of ICS are locally available. Any person with some training can easily install a ICS. Operation and maintenance is very easy and any family member with a simple training can operate and maintain the plant easily.

ICS will reduces the carbon (C02) emission because it cuts down the requirement of fuel wood which will prevent the further deterioration of environment at least to some extent.

One alarming news is that the natural gas supply is getting scarce and more expensive and diminishing day by day and cannot meet the required demand of the country. In near future gas will be rationed in cities like other essential commodities. The daily news papers have warns the matter of gas crisis in near future several times.

Hilful Fuzul has been motivating the households in its intervention areas on the benefits of ICS. ICS project has imposed a tremendous positive response in the intervention areas of Hilful Fuzul as a reliable alternative solution to mitigate the cooking energy problem.

Funding Organization:

Hilful Fuzul Has been implementing the project by the Technical & Financial Support of 'German Agency for Technical Cooperation-GTZ'

Objective:

Efficient use of Biomass Fuel to reduce fuel cost in cooking, heating etc. and protect the environment from excessive removal of trees for firewood

Purpose of ICS:

• Save Fuel cost

• Prevent health deterioration of the cooker

•  ICS may cut down the use of biomass fuel to more than half due to its higher energy efficiency.

• Dissemination of    ICS may produce new ICS technicians & new employment opportunities.

• The opening on which the pot! pan sits is designed in such a way that maximum energy is utilized & no space to escape.

• The ICS also removes smoke, the causes of indoor air pollution, through a exhaust pipe. So it keeps the kitchen environment clean.

Benefits of an ICS :

• Cuts down the fuel cost to more than 50% .

• The kitchen remains smoke or carbon free.

• Keeps the kitchen environment free of contamination.

• The kitchen user remains healthy. Not attacked by the adverse effect of smoke.

• Kitchen utensils remain clean and carbon free.

• Cooks smartly in minimum time.

• Minimizes the fire accidents

• Utilizes less biomass in cooking so it conserves plants and as well as environment

• Emits less carbon so reduces greenhouse effect.

Materials needed to install an ICS :

• Clay/Brick & cement

• Pieces of broken pot

• Rod/pieces of bamboo

• Metallic net

• Chimney

• Cap for Chimney

• ICS may be used in hostels, hospitals, cantonments, hotels, restaurants, community centers, other business enterprises along with family use.

• ICS may be installed as suitable for industries.

• The height of ICS from ground level may be adjusted depending on the user's convenience.

• The materials used for ICS installation are easily available & cost effective. ICS may be installed with clay only as well as with brick & cement.

• The multiple opening ICS may be used for cooking of different items at a time

• The institutional ICSs are built with brick & cement & may be used for cooking of large number of people at a time in competitive short time.

 Rural Services Foundation

RSF has entered into new area of energy saving sector called improved cook stove with the cooperation of GTZ.  Goal is to modify the stoves to make them fuel efficient and provide them with a mechanism (eg chimney) to remove pollutants from the indoor environment. In addition RSF has constructed 1510 ICS in three villages of SIDR affected area. So far RSF has constructed over 2150 ICS in different areas of Bangladesh.