Low-cost interventions for open wood fires in rural communities

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the efficacy of low-cost modifications to open wood fires in marginalized communities in the Global South to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

• In poor, rural, and marginalized communities, particularly in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, clean-cooking fuels and stoves are often inaccessible. Even when clean-cooking techniques are adopted, they are frequently used alongside open wood-burning fires, which restricts the overall benefits of transitioning to electricity or gas.
• The study tested low-cost supplements for open fires, specifically metal grates, ceramic grates, and rock beds. These interventions successfully lowered emissions and fuelwood consumption, providing environmental and social benefits, although they are unlikely to reduce the health impacts that are currently prioritized by programs and policies.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2020). Low-cost interventions for open wood fires in rural communities. https://www.sei.org/publications/low-cost-interventions-open-wood-fires-rural-communities/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Low-cost interventions for open wood fires in rural communities. 2020. https://www.sei.org/publications/low-cost-interventions-open-wood-fires-rural-communities/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Low-cost interventions for open wood fires in rural communities |date=28 August 2020 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/low-cost-interventions-open-wood-fires-rural-communities/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2020lowcost, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Low-cost interventions for open wood fires in rural communities}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2020}, month = aug, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/low-cost-interventions-open-wood-fires-rural-communities/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }