Improved Energy Efficiency (South Africa)
VCS1 VER

There are a million coal users in South Africa, and the traditional method of building fires in homes is an inefficient way of using fuel. In addition many children suffer from serious health problems caused by air pollution.
 

The Basa Magogo project teaches local people a new way of building fires that cuts down coal use by around 140kg per household per year, and reduces air pollution.

The fire is packed with coal at the bottom, newspaper in the middle, and wood on top. When the fire is lit, two additional hands of coal are placed on top. The fire then burns from the top to the bottom and, as a result, the fire heats up sooner, burns for longer, and particulate emissions are reduced by more than 80%.

Energy consumption and emissions of carbon dioxide are reduced by 25%. The carbon dioxide benefits are calculated, and the number of homes using the fire are carefully checked, in order to determine the carbon dioxide benefits.

The Basa Magogo project is based on successful studies by Nova Research Organisation in eMbalenhle, a township near Secunda, Free State, South Africa. The quantity of emissions reduced over the period 1 May 2000 to 30 April 2007 is 36,377.6 tonnes CO2. The overall process and calculations are verified by KPMG.

Basa Magogo is a VCS1 VER project. To offset your emissions costs £6.55 per tonne, (£7.70 including VAT).