EPA Award For Stove Team International

Stove Team International, an improved cookstove organisation has been awarded the “Special Achievement Award in Developing Local Markets" for fuel-efficient stove projects by the EPA’s Partnership for Clean Indoor Air (PCIA). Founder Nancy Hughes was also awarded Whitman College Alumnus of Merit as per a report on Hedon.

Established in 2008, StoveTeam International has built stove factories in four countries, which have sold more than 12,000 stoves.

Nancy Hughes felt the need to come up with a solution on indoor air pollution and its associated problems when she traveled to Guatemala with a medical team in 2004. In Guatemala, she met an 18 year old girl whose hands were burnt shut at the age of two from cookstove fire. And the girl was waiting all those years to get surgery done on her hands. There were babies with choked throats with creosote, countless causes of hernias from collecting wood, and the effects of deforestation which had reached incurable stages.

On leaving Guatemala, Hughes realized the unavailability of medical services to the innumerable inhabitants. She wanted to go to the root of the problem and find a solution for it –which was smoke from the cookstoves.

She got help from Rotary International in form of a grant which was used to manufacture Ecocina, a portable, affordable and safe cookstove. She found local entrepreneurs who were willing to start sustainable factories to produce the stoves which also created employment. Her work was recognized among one of 100 people in the world who were contributing to the society and was awarded the ‘Service Above Self Award’ in 2009. 

In January this year, Hughes was awarded the Whitman College Alumnus of Merit Award for recognizing the health issues associated with open-fire cooking and developing Ecocina stove and starting Stove Team international to counter the problems.

In 2011, StoveTeam will be helping to establish clean cookstove factories in Mexico, Ghana and Kenya. 

Photo Courtesy: Stove Team International
Read the full story on: StoveTeam International Wins Top Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Award

"A Woman's Issue, A Children's Issue, An Economic Issue"

The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves was covered on “The Martha Stewart Show” to raise awareness about the unique role clean cookstoves play in saving lives, improving livelihoods, empowering women, and combating climate change. Martha encouraged her viewers to join the clean cookstove movement.

Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), appeared on the show to explain how clean cookstoves can deliver significant environmental and health benefits in the developing world. Jackson said, "This is a women's issue, a childrens' issue, and an economic issue."

Aaron Sherinian, representative of the Alliance of the United Nations Foundation stated that "Cooking shouldn't kill, but for many women and families around the world it does. Everyone can get involved and tell the world that this issue matters and should be at the top of the global agenda."

EPA and Peace Corps to Assist Clean Cookstove Distribution

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S Peace Corps have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to assist stronger institutional ties between the two organizations and explore opportunities to collaborate on a wide range of environmental issues -- including efforts to bring cleaner cookstoves to millions in the developing world – while connecting with the youth, enhancing the dialogue on environmentalism and supporting communities in problems in the United States and across the world, according to an EPA Press Release.

Under the MoU, EPA and the Peace Corps will delve into prospects to connect on issues such as distributing clean cookstoves. It will try to aid easy availability to fuel-efficient stoves, bio-digesters and solar ovens at the household and school levels so that the people are able to make informed decisions on issues that affect the environment.

EPA Administrator, Lisa P Jackson and Director of Peace Corps, Aaron Williams signed the MOU. “The partnership between EPA and the Peace Corps marks an important advance in the work and mission of both organizations,” said Jackson. “EPA and the Peace Corps can expand our efforts both here at home and throughout the world, combining our experiences and knowledge to tackle complex and pressing environmental issues confronting our global community.”

“Every day, thousands of Peace Corps volunteers around the planet work with local communities to find sustainable solutions to some of the most pressing environmental issues,” said Williams. “Our collaborative work with the EPA will help empower more communities to make environmentally friendly choices.”

The organizations will also work on environmental education, community monitoring, solid waste, waste water and safe water management, and climate change.

For the full press release: EPA and Peace Corps Sign a Memorandum of Understanding