The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Energy & Environment Program/Country Program Support intents to support the Government of Liberia through the Environmental Protection Agency to produce 500 Eco-stoves for use by vulnerable communities in Montserrado County.
Clean and reliable energy makes life better. Clean and reliable energy help to reduced Carbon dioxide emissions, improved health resulting from reduced indoor air pollution, create employment opportunities such as stove manufacturing, distribution, solar assembly etc. Eco-stove provides an affordable alternative to gas and electronic stoves yet maintaining the same technological advantages. The use of Eco-stoves does the following:
- reduces deforestation by a significance percentage by promoting the use of reusable stone stoves
- produces a more energy efficient cook stove that delivers immediate environmental, social, economic and technological benefits to the end user
- helps the user achieve energy independence
- reduces landfill by promoting the processing of household waste into bricks which can be used as fire starters for the eco stoves
- fights poverty by promoting skills development in both the unemployed youth and women
- creates employment, apprenticeship and entrepreneurial opportunities through the manufacturing, distribution, maintenance of eco-stoves
- reduces cooking cost up to a significant percentage by using reusable volcanic rocks
- promotes good health by the use of smoke free eco-stoves across the developing world suffering from indoor air pollution thought inefficient cook-stoves and the added benefit of light bulbs on the eco-stoves providing the lighting solution in areas without electricity instead of kerosene lamps
Eco-stoves use reusable volcanic rocks to cook. The volcanic rocks retain heat much longer than any other fuel. Bricks are used as fire starters and solar is used to power the inbuilt air system that runs forced air to the stones thus increasing combustion. It is a new concept in the country and on the continent although much awareness has not been achieved towards its production, importance and usage.
In Liberia, there is a slow paste rise of clean cook-stoves although they all use biomass as their source of fuel which still contributes to the high rate of deforestation. The initiative also includes the use of bricks which are the source of energy and the stoves have been heavily insulated with clay to retain the heat. A few Liberians depend on biomass stoves to cook. These include charcoal, bricks and firewood users.
The use of eco-stoves ensure that cooking is healthy, efficient and eco-friendly for everyone, regardless of socio-economic status. Billions of people in developing countries do not have access to electricity and gas. They cook with biomass and often on unhealthy and inefficient fires. Research has shown that women spend hour’s daily gathering fuel, and families can spend up to 30% of their monthly income on fuel, forcing them into energy poverty. Fuel production also contributes greatly to deforestation. Eco-stoves/cook-stoves and solar products offer a reliable and affordable solution! These products completely eliminate the need for kerosene.
Pursuant to this, the EPA with support from the United National Development Program (UNDP) intends to hire a Firm/National Consultant to produce 500 Eco-stoves for use by vulnerable communities in Montserrado County.
Considering the above, the UNDP through the Energy & Environment Unit of the EPA requests the services of a Firm/National Consultant to work in collaboration with the EPA in achieving this objective.
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