| Boiling Point | |
 Issue 51 (2006) Sharing information and communicating knowledge | |
| Article | What's happening in household energy? |
| Author | HEDON |
[top] [end]HEDON announces support from GTZ
HEDON is delighted to announce that GTZ-HERA has agreed to co-fund part of its activities in further developing the knowledge data base on various household energy issues and to initiate an a special interest group on scaling-up household energy interventions. GTZ is the first major organization to recognise the role of HEDON as the 'first-stop shop' for household energy information.As discussed in the article 'HEDON - the household energy network', HEDON is planning to develop special interest groups on topics such as clean indoor air, cooking and carbon (CDM), alcohol fuels, gaseous fuels, and scaling up. If organizations would like to collaborate with, and/or finance one of these areas of interest, please contact Grant Ballard Tremeer at grant@....
[top] [end]Ashden Awards for sustainable energy
The Ashden Awards for sustainable energy are now looking for entries from inspirational and innovative local sustainable energy projects from across the globe and which use renewable energy to address one or more of the following areas: Food, Education, Light, Health and Enterprise. There will also be a Special Africa Award designed to highlight the role which sustainable energy can play in meeting the particular challenges facing that continent.The Ashden Awards reward outstanding projects which can demonstrate how local sustainable energy can be used not only to slow down the factors contributing to climate change, but also to radically transform the lives of communities lacking essential energy. The Awards are designed to encourage a wider take-up of local energy solutions worldwide, proving to both the public and policy-makers that such schemes offer viable, practical ways of tackling both lack of access to vital resources and climate change.
In 2006 the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy will be offering:
Five first prizes of £30,000 each and four second prizes of £10,000 each for projects in the developing world (the 'Overseas' Awards) including a Special Africa Award designed to highlight the role which sustainable energy can play in meeting the particular challenges facing that continent. Prizes will also be given for projects in the UK.
The Ashden Awards are inviting applications from projects in developing countries
For more information on the Ashden Awards, please visit www.ashdenawards.org or contact: Danielle Jones on + 44 207 410 0330; email: info@... Closing dates for entries 21 November 2005
[top] [end]'Myth' that forests improve water flows - Reuters
A recent report from Reuters (July 28 2005) discusses findings from research done by John Palmer, manager of the Tropical Forestry Research Programme run by the British Department for International Development. He is quoted as saying 'Trees on the whole are not a good thing in dry areas if you want to manage water resources'. The report described as a myth, the belief that forests acted as sponges that soak up rain, releasing it throughout the year and ensuring more regular flows in rivers. Instead, trees' deep roots often aggravate water shortages in dry seasons. Although recognising that forests have many other benefits, including building materials and firewood, the report suggested that countries are wasting millions of dollars in planting trees specifically to improve water flows. These findings could have a major impact on policies around forest resources.[top] [end]Funding opportunities
[top] [end]GVEP gap fund
GVEP has announced the establishment of its Action Programs Fund - the GAPfund. Dr Abeeku Brew- Hammond, Manager of the GVEP Technical Secretariat, said the GAPfund would make US $1.5 million available for innovative projects which would provide energy services to poor communities around the world, including India. He added that the fund would support projects that deliver benefits in education, health and agro-enterprise, and so help reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). GVEP will work with a partner- base which includes the UK Department for International Development, the United States Agency for International Development, the World Bank and partners from the NGO community as well as the private sector. For further information contact GVEP at: Global Village Energy Partnership (GVEP), Abeeku Brew Hammond, Practical Action, Schumacher Centre, Bourton on Dunsmore, Rugby, CV23 9QZ, UK. Email: info@...[top] [end]EU Co-opener
The call has been announced for this EU funding. Over 100 grants will be disbursed totalling EUR5m. Aminimum of two independent organisations per application is required. Funding is up to a maximum of 50% of the cost of the project. This year, funding is available for activities under the following headings: 'Energy policies, legislation and market conditions for enabling poverty alleviation in developing countries' and 'Strengthening local energy expertise in developing countries'. These are explained in more detail in the Call text itself and in the Annual Work Programme 2005 (both available on (http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/intelligent/call_for_proposals/call_library_en.htm): Deadline for submissions is February 2006.[top] [end]New books
[top] [end]Power to the people by Vijay V Vaitheeswaran
This is a highly readable and well researched book. It opens by describing the situation in which the world finds itself, dominated by the major players in energy dictating access and using energy to wield power. The alternatives for local power generation, including the exciting potential of fuel cells and other forms of micropower are discussed. The author shows that this is no longer the domain of cranks and boffins, but that major players are already looking seriously at these forms of energy. There is a large section on the effects of these changes on developing countries, including a rarely-seen reference to the major effects of indoor air pollution on population health and how these new technologies could benefit health as well as providing access to energy services. This book is a lesson in how clear, well-argued and deeplyresearched information can be presented in such an engaging and enlightening way. ISBN: 1-84407-176-6 Earthscan, UK[top] [end]Household Fuels and Ill-Health in Developing Countries - What improvements can be brought by LP Gas by Kirk Smith, Jamesine Roger, and Shannon C Cowlin
This short book describes all the issues surrounding LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) and why it has such an important role in reducing the burden of ill-health in those communities which are able to access this fuel. However, the book does much more than this in that it describes the whole indoor air pollution issue in a clear, understandable way. The book discusses why LPG produces less greenhouse gases than woodfuel burnt in a traditional stove. The importance of harvesting fuel renewably is highlighted in this discussion. Social aspects, such as fuel collection and womenâs earning potential are discussed. Comparisons with other fuels are drawn, and the sustainability of LPG as a fuel is examined. Finally, the book is amply supplied with up-todate references and a helpful glossary, for those new to this topic.World LP Gas Association, Paris, France WWW.WORLDLPGAS.COM/PUBLICATIONS
[top] [end]Useful websites
Although Boiling Point reaches many people without computers, it also serves many who do have access. As this issue is about communication, I hope those with no access to computers will forgive this brief section. I'd also welcome any other suggestions for useful and informative websites to include in future editions[top] [end]HEDON www.hedon.info
A good place to start for finding out about all the other websites ...and lots more[top] [end]World Health Organization indoor air pollution site http://www.who.int/indoorair
This site is really useful for statistics, information material, databases[top] [end]REPPS stoves site www.repp.org
The Renewable Energy Policy Project has a stoves pages within the 'discussion groups' page. This describes the latest developments in stoves for cooking with biomass fuels in developing regions - lots of good pictures.[top] [end]Partnership for Clean Indoor Air www.pciaonline.org
The mission of the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air is to improve health, livelihood and quality of life by reducing exposure to air pollution, primarily among women and children, from household energy use.[top] [end]SciDev.Net www.scidev.net
News, views and information about science, technology and the developing world. Includes articles from other news sources worldwide.[top] [end]REEEP www.reeep.org
The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) is a coalition of progressive governments, businesses and organisations committed to accelerating the development of renewable and energy efficiency systems.[top] [end]EarthTrends - environmental information portal http://earthtrends.wri.org/
A really useful website for tables and statistics on key environmental indicators[top] [end]GVEP global village energy partnership www.gvep.org
GVEP's aims are to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development through the accelerated provision of modern energy services to those unserved or underserved. See News from Practical Action in Boiling point 51.[top] [end]ProBEC The Programme for Biomass Energy Conservation in Southern Africa www.probec.org
The aim of ProBec is to enable lower income population groups satisfy their energy requirements in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner.[top] [end]Sparknet www.sparknet.info
SPARKNET is an interdisciplinary interactive Knowledge Network focusing on energy for low-income households in Southern and East Africa. It provides up-to-date information on several countries and a very useful comparative data bar chart facility on energy sources and use.[top] [end]Energia www.energia.org and Energia Africa: energia-africa.org
ENERGIA is an international network on gender and sustainable energy which links individuals and groups concerned with energy, sustainable development, and gender. ENERGIA's goal is to contribute to the empowerment of rural and urban poor women through a specific focus on energy issues.[top] [end]Download the original article
What's happening in household energy? by HEDON (119 KB)[top] [end]Contents: Boiling Point 51 - Sharing information and communicating knowledge
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