Quantifying the Environmental Impacts of Cookstove Transitions: A Societal Exergy Analysis Based Model of Energy Consumption and Forest Stocks in Honduras

Noah Ver Beek, Elvin Vindel, Matthew Kuperus Heun and Paul E. Brockway
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Noah Ver Beek: Engineering Department, Calvin University, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA
Elvin Vindel: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Matthew Kuperus Heun: Engineering Department, Calvin University, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA
Paul E. Brockway: Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-22

Abstract: Unsustainable consumption of biofuels contributes to deforestation and climate change, while household air pollution from burning solid biofuels in homes results in millions of premature deaths globally every year. Honduras, like many low and medium Human Development Index countries, depends on primary solid biofuels for more than 30% of its primary energy supply (as of 2013). We conducted a societal exergy analysis and developed a forest stock model for Honduras for 1971–2013 and used the results to model an energy transition from traditional wood stoves to either improved efficiency wood cookstoves or modern fuel cookstoves (using Electricity or Liquefied petroleum gas) over the period 2013–2050. The exergy analysis and forest model enabled quantification of the environmental tradeoffs between the improved efficiency and fuel switching scenarios. We find that the continued reliance on wood within both the existing and improved wood cookstove scenarios would exhaust forest stocks by 2050, though improved efficiency could reduce national greenhouse gas emissions. Modern fuel cookstoves would reduce household air pollution, emissions, and deforestation. However, the best alternative to successfully reduce household air pollution, GHG emissions, and deforestation is a rapid switch to electric stoves with significant investment in renewable-based electricity.

Keywords: societal exergy analysis; forest stocks; Honduras; cookstoves; wood stoves; biofuels; low HDI countries; medium HDI countries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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