ENVIROFIT BRINGS SMART COOKSTOVE TO NIGERIA

By Vwede Overah

Envirofit International Nigeria has pioneered the introduction of the Smart Cooking Technology for better living in Nigeria.

Envirofit was founded on the idea that enterprise principles can transform the development of household and commercial energy technologies for people living in energy poverty. In 2003, Envirofit set out to change the way energy products were developed for people living in energy poverty. With a goal of improving harmful traditional cooking methods, Envirofit innovated a product line of aesthetic, high performance cookstoves tailored to the needs of customers in emerging markets. Years of consumer research and product development proved that people who lack access to electricity and clean cooking solutions do desire and will buy high quality products that will improve their lives.    

Across Nigeria, household and commercial meals are typically prepared using three stones fire, which are known to be inefficient as they consume large amount of firewood to prepare a single meal, are harmful for the health of the cooks/food vendors (mostly women), as well as time consuming for cooking and gathering of firewood. In urban areas, women usually purchase firewood/charcoal from the local market while in rural areas; firewood gathering is generally a woman’s work. In many areas where the local sources of firewood are completely depleted, women get firewood regardless of deforestation and its environmental impacts. Fuel supplies are quite expensive and women and food vendors have also noted the procuring fuel consumes a great deal of the income and time. 

Some households have been introduced to the Fuel Efficient Stove and have confirmed the end of harmful smoke fumes (complete combustion and chimney), low carbon emission, easy maintenance, low fuel consumption and energy efficient. 

One of the company’s fast selling products widely referred to as the SuperSaver Premium Charcoal stove, it is the most powerful, fastest boiling charcoal stove in the market. With unparalleled durability, this stove is easy to light, clean, and simmer foods on. Cooks traditional Nigerian foods like beans, rice, yam and plantain in under 20 minutes.

Envirofit West Africa provides biomass (charcoal and wood) cookstoves to Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Gambia, and several other countries. According to Biodun Olaore, the Country Director for Nigeria, every stove is designed in their research laboratory in the United States and created to meet the needs of those living in energy poverty in West Africa.

“We manufacture energy efficient smart cooking technologies. Most traditional ways of cooking are actually inefficient but here, our cooking technologies are more efficient. Along with emission reductions (SDG 13), the cookstoves will contribute to other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the following ways:

·        For households and institutions to reduce the money spent for purchasing cooking fuel (firewood, charcoal, kerosene) - (SDG 1)

·        For women/children in the kitchen to reduce respiratory illness caused by indoor air-pollution (SDG 3)

·        To decrease unsustainable deforestation and environmental degradation (SDG 15)

·        Help mitigate climate change and contribute positively to SDG 13, by stabilizing forests, increasing biodiversity, enhancing soil fertility and water retention, as well as preventing soil erosion (SDG 15).

 “That is why we say it is smarter cookstove for smarter living. With this, carbon emission is drastically reduced, and the fuel consumption is very low.” According to him, the stoves are produced in Nigeria 

The Envirofit Smart Stove have won several awards. Among the numerous is the Times Magazine’s Heroes of the Environment (2009) award for proving to be the most innovative and influential protectors of the planet.