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Since 1976, Aprovecho Research Center has provided technical assistance to improved stove projects in over 60 countries around the world. We found that sometimes it can be difficult to make fuel efficient, low emission biomass burning stoves using local materials and manufacturers. Making insulative combustion chambers and affordable cast iron stove parts can be especially challenging.
ARC staff looked for a long time to find a factory that could make high quality rocket stoves at the lowest price possible. We were very lucky to find Shengzhou Stove Manufacturer, a family run small factory that has been selling millions of stoves for decades in China. ARC worked closely with Mr. Shen, an engineer and the factory owner, to make best quality rocket stoves. The rocket stoves are now available worldwide.
Ashden Award 2009
Aprovecho Research Center and Shengzhou Stove Manufacturer won the 2009 Ashden International Energy Champion Award for their partnership
 Aprovecho Research Center and Shengzhou Stove Manufacturer jointly received the prestigious 2009 International Energy Champion Ashden Award from Prince Charles for mass producing wood and charcoal burning cook stoves that cost between $4 and $10.
This is the first time that large quantities of inexpensive, high-quality factory made stoves are available. Over 70,000 stoves have been sold in the past year, with a production capacity of 500,000 stoves per year. Stoves are purchased by the container load, ready for distribution.
Solutions to Reduce Stove Emissions
Nordica MacCarty and Damon Ogle spent two years in the ARC lab inventing simple and accurate equipment to measure stove emissions. The Portable Emissions Monitoring System (PEMS) captures all emissions and provides a real time record of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and particulate matter. The system can also be used for global warming studies. For studies of indoor air pollution, the IAP Meter is contained in a small box that records the same pollutants for up to a week without recharging the batteries.
StoveTec
Aprovecho started StoveTec in 2008 to market and sell the stoves, stove parts and the emission equipment. The StoveTec web site describes all these exciting products in detail.
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