Depending on the type of stove and ventilation, indoor cooking can be a significant source of indoor air pollution. To specifically address this issue in countries with homes that do not have ovens that run on electricity or gas, non-profit company Envirofit International offers up several options for stoves that burn cleaner than common burning cook stoves.

The Envirofit G Series of the EnviroFlame Combustion and Envirofit Cooking Systems replace the cookstoves burning biomass (wood, plant waste or dung) often used in homes in developing countries with a stove that emits less gasses and particular matter. The stoves were developed in partnership with Shell Foundation and Colorado State University’s Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory.

These stoves can cut emissions by 80 percent while requiring 60 percent less fuel. They address two challenges developing countries face: pollution and costly energy. With limited access to health care, decreasing indoor air pollution is just what the doctor ordered.

Depending on how dirty the fuel is that is being burned, the amount or lack of ventilation available in the home (there is most likely no air conditioning to circulate the air) and how many hours per day the stove is used, family members can be at risk to harmful exposure to carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, particulate matter, possibly sulfur and the list can go on and on.

By burning fuel more efficiently, families can save money that can be used for other vital needs that are all too often not met in developing countries. Reducing the fossil fuels consumed also benefits their lungs as well.

From an environmental perspective, burning more efficiently means using a bit less raw materials and habitat destruction and to prevent additional greenhouse gas emissions. An argument that many developing countries make when negotiating global warming agreements is that they do not have the financial or infrastructure resources to prevent emissions. But implementing Envirofit systems, which are pretty affordable and from a company committed to keeping them affordable, offers an inexpensive reduction climate change contributions