The Cost and Art of Living with high Energy Prices
A Norwegian ecophilosopher, Arne Naess once coined the term “Rich ends from simple means”. The locally manufactured wood burner is an embodiment of this. It is a cheap method to help in bringing down the cost of living. Here the means are simple and the ends are rich.
As it is, the cost of living will not come down because of the oil prices. Today a barrel of oil is USD 82. That will continue spiralling. There is no alternative for us but to find methods of reducing the dependency on fossil fuel and find indigenous substitutes. One such initiative is to use renewable bio-fuels for cooking or at least to cut back fossil fuel use, with greater use of renewable bio fuels in the kitchen.
The schedule given below is based on cooking a meal for four persons made up of –
1000 grams of rice,
250 grams of lentils (Dhal),
250 grams of sprats and
450 grams of local vegetables
Five alternatives with costs are given below:
Three stone fireplace. Firewood consumption is 1300 grams per meal (50 minute duration).
Wholesale price: Rs 5.26 per kg.
Retail price is around Rs 10. per kg.
This method is very unsatisfactory because the cook inhales the smoke.
Who is the cook?
Kerosene: Consumption. Retail price is around Rs 70. per litre at the local store.
One litre is needed per day.
Heavily subsidized by the government.
Gas: Consumption: 0.45 kgs per day. Costs: 1 cylinder of 13.68 kgs with transport around Rs 1200.-.
Gas is subsidized by the government and prices will increase shortly.
Electricity: Heavily subsidized by the government.
Consumption: 2.25 kwh per day.
Gliricidia*: Consumption: 1.95 kgs per day.
Wholesale price is Rs 3. per kilo. Retail price Rs 5.
(The leaves from the trees are also used for mulching, compost making and to feed goats. )
Excellent as a nitrogen fixer to improve soils.
Summary per year for family of 4 persons
Firewood (1400 kg) at Rs 10.- Rs 14,000.
Kerosene (365 litres) Rs 25,550.
Gas (164.25 kg) Rs 14,400.
Electricity (821.kwh) Rs 14,597.
Gliricidia (657 kg)* Rs 3,285.
* A wood burning stove is used for cooking when using Gliricidia. Industrially tested stoves manufactured to NERD specifications are available at Rs 2950. A wood burning stove can be made in the villages at between Rs 1000.- and Rs 2000.-.
Savings
Using Gliricidia with a wood burning stove will save a family from Rs 10,000.- to Rs 20,000. per year. Many families can grow their own Gliricidia and even the expenditure on the wood can be reduced or eliminated. This scheme can save the national economy over Rs 40 to 60 Billion.
Using wood burning stoves is the first step in bringing down the cost of living.
The designs can vary according to the price ranges which the customers decide on. This stove is ideal for the poor but the rich could have a wood burner embedded in a marble slab, if that is what they want.
A political declaration is called for by all the political parties and the academic and commercial world to put Gliricidia and its usage on a priority basis. The former Minister of Plantations Mr Anura Priyadharshana Yapa steered through the Cabinet a decision to make Gliricidia the fourth plantation crop. The first three were Tea, Rubber and Coconut which were introduced by the British. This decision has now to be implemented.
Every village and every ward should have a committee urging the people to switch to Gliricidia and a massive publicity campaign has to be initiated. Government could, under Samurdhi subsidize workshops in villages to manufacture their own stoves.
by Arjuna Hulugalle.