[Stoves] [ethos] Re: Laboratory Comparison of theGlobal-Warming Potential of Six Categories of Biomass Cooking Stoves

[Tom Miles]

Jeff,

PCIA may have a better idea of who has the interest and capability for
testing in various countries. As far as I understand PCIA (EPA) itself does
not have a budget for building capacity (equipment and personnel) for
multiyear testing of this kind in other countries. Member countries and
organizations would have to provide their own resources. 

We developed performance and emission testing procedures for heating stoves
in Oregon which were later improved and adopted by the EPA. Other countries
have adopted similar testing protocols. Recently an improved (ASTM) protocol
has been developed for outdoor wood boilers. There is a continuing European
effort to develop and adopt (CIN) standards for bioenergy fuels and devices
of all kinds. These tests are developed in North America and Europe because
they become the basis for regulation and enforcement and the basis for
commercial contracts. Cooking stoves have no similar regulation or contract
incentives. Funding may be an incentive. I believe that PCIA and Shell
initially requested tests of these kinds hoping to use them to help funding
decisions. ("Draw a line in the sand" to separate good stoves from poor
stoves were the words of a manager now no longer involved.)  

The kinds of benchmarks that Aprovecho has established with testing are good
stimulants for development. Use of these kinds of procedures should lead to
overall improvement in performance and emissions. It is in all our interests
to find the best ways to adapt and use these methods. So let's work through
the issues and find methods that we can all consider useful.

Let's not put organizations in the position of not wanting to test their
stoves because it may hurt them in obtaining funds for development and
dissemination. 

Tom
      


 
---------

Hi Tom,

OK, so training is doable.

Equipment might be doable.

But a mandate is out of reach?



Jeff