Preface
Mud stoves play an important role in improving the efficiency of household energy use in East Africa.
The technology has been used for many decades in areas where fuel wood is scarce. For many years,
metal or ceramic stoves have dominated the improved stove texts with little or no mention of the mud
stove technology. This book is designed to add value to the mud stove technology and to recognise
the immense indigenous knowledge and skills that is indeed the driving force behind the quiet
evolution of the technology.
This publication is expected to help stove promoters learn from the existing mud stove
technologies and in the process help to disseminate the technology in their communities.
It gives details of the important aspects of the technology and the areas where emphasis should be
laid to achieve success in technology dissemination. In addition, it provides a checklist of existing mud
stoves in the East African region with a section on ways of improving the efficiency by adhering to
certain rules of thumb.
The text is a contribution to the improvement of the quality of life of the many biomass energy
users. Every unit of fuel saved through increased efficiency of traditional fires by use of mud stoves
goes a long way in ensuring that the objective is achieved.
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