Introducing the eco-Kalan in the Philippines
Rebecca Arrieta Vermeer of Dumaguete City, Philippines


What is an eco-KALAN?

An eco-KALAN is a portable stove made of clay consisting of three components: the outer shell (kalan) on which the cooking pot sits; the inner chamber (rocket elbow) where the combustion takes place; and a shelf with air holes to hold the fuel. The space between the kalan and the combustion chamber is filled with wood ash for insulation.

See the eco-Kalan Story http://www.eco-kalan.com/index.php?what

Videos:

Feeding Program at South City Elementary School, Mangnao, Dumaguete City, Philippines

Pilot Lunch Program for 40 school days in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines starting on January 11, 2010. Program is funded by the Philippine Government and administered by the Department of Education.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRjDNMsJmiE&feature=email

Introducing the Eco-Kalan-C and Eco-Magic Box to the Lunch Feeding Program.

This video demonstrates how to build an Eco- Magic Box; and how to use the Magic Box and the Commercial (C) Eco-Kalan in the Lunch Feeding Program at South City Central School in Mangnao, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtsM_dm6XZw&feature=email

Avocado Eco-Kalan Presentation, February 19, 2010.
Avocado is a mountain community in the town of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, Philippines. Donors from British Columbia, Canada are Kees & Rebecca Arrieta Vermeer and the Chilcotin Log Church. Avocado is unique in that it was and continues to be a base for insurgencies by the New People's Army.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqq-vfTepc8&feature=email

The projects are supported by non-profit organizations in British Columbia, Canada.

Stove development has been in collaboration with Nate Johnson and Mark Bryden of Iowa State University and Sebastian Africano of Trees Water and People and Aprovecho Research Center.

Christa Roth, December, 2009

Good question, Tom: while we were with GTZ in Malawi, we did a lot of work on standardising the dimensions of locally produced fired portable clay stoves (model adopted from Practical Action's work in Kenya). Their selling price ranges from 1- 3 $ in the communities. We all agree that stove-wise, they are not the greatest devices, but the most affordable, accessible and convenient ones in this area. As people mostly don't have kitchens, portability ranges high on the priority list of peoples choices, so mudstoves are not an option here.

Thus we had to work with the available material to produce a stove that people wanted and could afford. With the help of simple moulds and measuring tools we worked towards a uniformity of this artisanal product and standardise the crucial points influencing stove
performance: size of the door, height of the fire-chamber, durability and shape of potrests to ensure a standard gap between stove body and pot., to name a few.
I never had a chance to get the stoves tested for emissions, but they do reduce fuel consumption as compared to the open fire, while the amount of reduction depends more on the user than the stove itself.
I can't quantify the change in performance achieved by these quality control measures, but they definitely led to a much better uniformity and acceptance of this artisanal product. A good-looking stove just sells better!

Richard Boyt, June 2005

The following material is the fifth part of a seven-part condensation from the booklet "Practical Tips for Potters, Making Improved Cooking Stoves",

Prepared by Tim Jones, illustrated by Debbie Riviere, published by Hofman Systems Engineering b.v., PO Box 624, 3100 AP Schiedam, The Netherlands (1993)