The Lorena Stove

Saving the World One Person at a Time

The Lorena Stove 2

What Is a Lorena Stove?

Replaces open fires in hut

Removes smoke from hut through chimney

Constructed of inexpensive raw materials• Adobe (mud, straw, water)

• Large plastic bucket

• Empty coffee or soup can

• Pipe for chimney Cooking on an open fire in a hut

The Lorena Stove 3

Effect of Lorena Stoves on Infant Mortality

0

2

4

6

8

10

Dea

ths

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Infant Deaths In Paqarimuy, Peru

* Cases of respiratory disease not available

Note drop after 2003 when Lorena Stoves were installed

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Why Use Lorena Stoves?

Decrease incidence of common diseases from smoke inhalation• Respiratory infections

• Eye infections

• Asthma

Increase fuel efficiency• Save trees in and around village

• Save work cutting and gathering wood

Peruvian boy who has suffered from

respiratory infections

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How Do They Work?

Wood or grass placed in fuel chamber

Fuel ignited

Pot or pan placed on opening on top

Cool air enters through fuel chamber

Smoke exits through chimney

Fuel chamber

Adobe Stove

Chimney pipe

Opening for pot or pan

Pipe exits roof

smoke

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Selecting the Location

Build Lorena stove in corner of hut farthest from front door

Choose wall so that fuel chamber is on right or left, depending on handedness of cook Walls of hut

Doo

r

Chimney Opening for pan

Lorenastove

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Constructing the Stove: Making Adobe

1. Select mud with a moderate amount of clay► Excessive clay causes stove

to crack when heated

► Insufficient clay causes stove to collapse

2. Mix with water

3. Add straw

Mixing mud and water

Mixing in straw

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Constructing the Stove: Preparing the Frame

1. Place large plastic bucket near side of wooden form to be fuel chamber

2. Place empty coffee can near other side of form to be heat chamber

3. Place chimney pipe midway between other items Wooden form

Chi

mne

y pi

pe

Fuel chamber

Heat chamber

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Constructing the Stove: Filling Frame with Adobe

1. Join 3 chambers with pipes or small cans

2. Add adobe around buckets, cans, and pipes

3. Prop sides of form to prevent collapse

4. Allow 48 to 72 hours to dryAdding adobe to frame

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Constructing the Stove: Adding a Finish

1. After adobe dries, remove wooden frame

2. Remove plastic bucket (other cans and pipes stay in stove)

3. Apply wet adobe to outer surface; rub until smooth

Photo of completed stove in woman’s hut

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Final Notes

Work under direction of villagers

Train villagers to build stoves

Train villagers to cook on stove

Villagers like stoves for their fuel economy

Lorena stoves save lives