SHI Techniques - Wood-Conserving Stoves

Wood-conserving stoves are saving thousands of trees and greatly improving women's and children's health in Central America. These stoves require half the amount of firewood of an open fireplace and reduce the amount of smoke in the home. Women and children using open fire places in their homes in Honduras were breathing smoke fumes equivalent to eight packs of cigarettes a day! Now, with SHI's support, hundreds of families are building simple stoves for cooking and heating, while smoke is funneled outside via a chimney. These stoves are easy to construct with mostly local material and are greatly improving the lives of many.

SHI's local staff have helped more than 750 families construct wood-conserving stoves in their homes (saving more than 1,650 trees per year!).

"The smoke goes up the chimney as opposed to getting in my eyes and lungs."

-Ofelia Sho, New Owner of Lorena Stove in Belize
Click here to read the more from Ofelia Sho.

$50 is all it takes to provide a family with the basic materials to construct one of these stoves. CLICK HERE to donate a stove in honor of a friend or family member.

For step-by-step instructions on building a Justa stove, click the images below:

Return to Techniques