End use efficiencies in the domestic sector of Uttara Kannada District

End use efficiency experiments conducted in some households of Masur villag e (based on 4 days experiment) of Kumta taluk show that there is scope for saving 27-42% of energy by switching to improved devices, which are designe d to maximise combustion rate (of fuel, ensuring the presence of sufficient oxygen), radiant heat transfer (from fire to vessels, keeping them as clos e to fire as possible), convection (to pass maximum hot gas over vessels, r educing drafts), conduction (heat is concentrated near the vessels by using insulating material for the stove) and user satisfaction (with user friend ly design). The thermal performances of improved stoves designed at our Ins titute (ASTRA) have also been studied in the field. Irrespective of type of fuel, community, etc., improved stoves show significant saving in fuel. By switching to energy efficient devices 450,548 to 700,853 tonnes of fuel wo od can be saved per year in the district. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al l rights reserved.