Replacing traditional cookstoves with safe and efficient Ecocinas will save lives and natural resources in third world countries.


According to the World Health Organization, respiratory problems are the leading cause of death for children under the age of five living in Central America.  Respiratory disease kills more children than malaria.  Simply heating a pot of water can cause injury or death from open flames.  And the wood used to heat traditional stoves can cost each family up to $45 per month, an astronomical amount for impoverished families in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.

But the Ecocina stove, developed by StoveTeam International, is making a difference in the lives of those living in impoverished countries. 

The Ecocina is a cookstove made form concrete and insulated with pumice.  Even after hours of use it’s barely warm to the touch, eliminating the risk of burns.  And it’s self-contained, so there’s 70% less smoke to escape and cause respiratory problems.  Plus, the Ecocina uses 60% less wood to operate.  Dry corncobs or small twigs can be used for fuel, so less wood is consumed during the cooking process, a long-term benefit to the environment.

The Ecocina’s “rocket elbow” combustion chamber reduces smoke and deadly carbon monoxide in the home by containing combustion within the stove itself.  No chimney is required, and the stove can be placed on a few bricks or small table, out of the reach of small children.

Very little training is required in using the stove, and it’s quick heating time has helped it gain popularity with locals.

StoveTeam produces the stoves from local materials at a cost of about $40, but $20 of that cast is covered by grants and donations.  Families pay $5 a month for four months (Roughly equivalent to the cost of a two or three week supply of firewood) to cover the remaining $20 construction cost.  Ecocina factories are run by locals, increasing employment opportunities in the area.  And sales of 6,000 stoves were reported in El Salvador alone last year.



Energy poverty in the developing world is a complex and ongoing problem that won’t be solved overnight.  But the StoveTeam International Ecocina is a step in the right direction.

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