Fuel substitution and efficient woodstoves: Are they the answers to the fuelwood supply problem in Northern Nigeria?

Fuelwood consumption in Northern Nigeria exceeds the sustainable production, and the deficit is currently met through long-distance transport from the southern part of the country at an artificially low cost Current household fuel consumption patterns and factors affecting stove choice are discussed. Little has been done to promote more efficient woodstoves in the region, but prospects for stove programs are only good where fuelwood is marketed and the policy environment is conducive. At subsidized official prices for kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and electricity, wood is more expensive on a net usable heat basis, but the high capital cost of stoves for these fuels prevents many households from switching. Moreover, these fuels are often only available at much higher parallel market prices, which result in wood being the less expensive choice. There is little prospect for substitution of coal, solar cookers, or biogas digesters.     

The impact of wood smoke on ambient PM2.5 in northern Rocky Mountain valley communities

During the winters of 2006/2007 and 2007/2008, PM_2.5 source apportionment programs were carried out within five western Montana valley communities. Filter samples were analyzed for mass and chemical composition. Information was utilized in a Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) computer model to apportion the sources of PM_2.5. Results showed that wood smoke (likely residential woodstoves) was the major source of PM_2.5 in each of the communities, contributing from 56% to 77% of the measured wintertime PM_2.5. Results of ¹⁴C analyses showed that between 44% and 76% of the measured PM_2.5 came from a new carbon (wood smoke) source, confirming the results of the CMB modeling. In summary, the CMB model results, coupled with the ¹⁴C results, support that wood smoke is the major contributor to the overall PM_2.5 mass in these rural, northern Rocky Mountain airsheds throughout the winter months.