imagine what one can accomplish for the environment if this were partnered with a solar oven and/or even just a simple haybox - preferably more than one!

So, smoke and toxic emissions from cooking fires kill 1.6 million people a year? That is complete and utter BS. Do you guys ever check a "fact" before you print it?

LA: You might read the Philips link. You might read the PDF of a scientific study here.

I read the above paper at the Philips link, and the conclusion that the authors came to is: There is a relationship between CB and COPD and the use of biomass fuels in rural areas of central Turkey. Which seems to support the above fact about 1.6 million people dying. I have in fact travelled in various places around Africa and indoor cooking fires are definitely a concern. Check out the following links to find that the WHO and the nation of China are pretty concerned about the issue...

Pubmed on Biomass in China

Our Planet

colorado Journal

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A similar product, the Sierra Zip stove (http://www.zzstove.com/sierra.html), has been available for years and is sold for about $60 through Campmor (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=13930). Only requiring an AA battery for hours of use, an inexpensive solar charger could make this a readily available alternative to Phillips’ design.

A similar problem exists in China. People use coal in small poorly designed stoves. Sometimes the gap between the wall top and roof eave serves as the vent flue, which results in continuous exposure of the inhabitants to sulferous oxides,ash, and PAH's. Worse, Chinese coal tends to have very high levels of mercury lead arsenic and flouride, so much so in some regions that food flouride poisioning is a serious public health issue.

Benjamin Franklin was inspired to develop his "Franklin Stove" though his experiences with terrible fire place designs. He wrote humorously about how he could tell how bad a person's fire place was made by the extent to which he/she smelled like a Virginia Ham. There are several reasons why the avearge life span of North Americans increased steadily from the Civil War on: one of these reasons was the improvments made to cooking and heating system designs!

This doesnt really solve one of the bigger problems of wood stoves: deforestation. Granted, this stove requires less wood, but it still uses it. I also dont see people who need to use wood stoves because they cant afford anything else spending money on this product. Its a good idea, but i fear it doesnt really make the problem less of a concern.

This is a great idea! I believe that it has the potential to change the face of third world countries. Unfortunately, as I have found out from past experience, a new way to burn fuel isn't necessarily the answer. In the United States there are good and decent people who are burning pallet material for firewood. As more people are learning this wood is reeking with toxins including arsenic. Recently, I was buying a Christmas tree with my kids when I say the black smoke eminating from the burn barrel nearby with a pile of broken commercial pallets nearby. After explaining the danger there response was that of interested disinterest, continuing to burn pallets long after we left. Education is the key regardless of the country.

Is this stove available? Where?

Stoves like this are being used to keep women safe in displaced persons camps in Darfur and Chad. Over 2 million people in Darfur have been forced into camps after destruction of their villages. The relief aid they get includes food, but they have to search for firewood, or buy it where possible, to cook the food. Getting firewood means leaving the camps to scrounge the countryside for scarce wood and this puts them in dangerous territory, at risk of being raped or hurt. Women go out for firewood because if the men went out, they would be killed; the women are "only" at risk for rape! The aid agencies may provide a few days' supply of wood but the refugees must find a way to get the rest. Some refugees sell food ration tickets in order to buy firewood, meaning they sacrifice food for firewood.

Some relief agencies have begun distributing fuel-efficient stoves of different kinds. The project has a long way to go, but at least some Darfuri women have received a stove similar to this Phillips one and now take fewer, or no, trips outside the camps in search of firewood. They only need 25% of the firewood they used to use. The stoves are produced in Sudan, creating income for local people. One agency distributing the stoves is called CHF. You can donate to provide more stoves at www.chfinternational.org.

An even better option is solar cookers which use no wood, but slow cook food by reflecting and absorbing the intense desert sunlight. In desert environments they can be used most days of the year. The ideal thing is to have an 80% efficient stove like the Phillips for the times you want to cook fast, or the weather doesn't permit, and a solar one to use most of the time. Jewish World Watch is distributing solar cookers in Darfuri refugee camps in Chad (contribute at jewishworldwatch.org) and they are being used in other places in the world too.

Beyond preventing rape (as though that wasn't enough!) these stoves cut down drastically on deforestation, a crucial issue in Darfur. They also mean women don't spend hours each day walking in search of firewood, and yes, the women are relieved they don't have to breathe in as much smoke.

I wonder if Phillips is distributing such stoves in the refugee camps in Darfur and Chad?

sounds interesting. would like to know operational efficiency and affordability price present availability. this will not only lessen pollution also improve cooking standard and energy efficiency.