ARPEDAC aims to demonstrate and advocate the sustainable use of technology to reduce poverty in the general Central Africa sub-region and particularly in Cameroon. Our mission is to improve the quality of life of low income people in the Central Africa sub-region through energy efficiency technologies including improved stoves, and through use of sustainable, safe and affordable small scale off-grid electricity technologies supply and services.
Regarding indoor smoke alleviating technologies, ARPEDAC is doing research, capacity building and raising awareness on waste to energy (fuel briquettes), improved stoves, and ventilation systems to improve indoor air quality. ARPEDAC is also carrying out research and advocacy to create favourable policies to improve low cost homes, including waste management (briquettes from waste, biogas from human manure and waste), and waste water recycling systems.
Contact Information
Our Focus
ARPEDAC is a non-profit association involved in research and promotion of services and technologies related to energy efficiency and renewable energy in the Economic Community of Central Africa.
In the next three years (2012 – 2015) in Cameroon ARPEDAC is planning to support families and children in achieving access to low cost technologies to improve their living conditions, including improved indoor air quality as the result of carrying out research on cooking/lighting energy needs (for poor families/schools) in the capital Yaoundé, organising awareness campaigns, capacity building, promoting access to good lighting, safe drinking water, good household sanitation and low cost clean energy kits. In summary our projected energy poverty relief targets for the next three year period are as follows: - 20,000 Solar lighting kits for poor families - 10 solar water pumps for schools - 1,000 Bio-sand filters for clean water - 1,000 improved stoves for poor families/schools - 1,000 tonnes briquettes for cooking on the improved stoves - 300 m3 Biogas plan for cooking/lighting for poor families/schools - 1,000 low energy bulbs for poor families - 1,000 Alternative water boiler technologies (Low Cost Solar Thermal)for poor families
By 2015, we also plan to set up a briquette manufacturing company in Cameroon, in partnership with the private sector and government.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
One barrier is the lack of clear policy and politics related to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Awareness about energy efficiency and renewable energy technology including improved cooking technologies is non-existent in some areas of Cameroon. Some of the main social/cultural barriers to using energy efficiency and renewable energy is that the popular three-stone fire also serves as a source of indoor heating and light in the kitchen. In addition some low income families believe that smoke keeps away mosquitoes. Also poverty is still very high and very few families especially in the rural areas can afford improved technologies.
Through collaboration with governments, industry, universities, and research bodies, ARPEDAC is working to develop affordable products, practices, services and to establish a market-based institutional delivery system of improved indoor air quality technologies. Our focus is on research and development, capacity building, awareness creation, increased access to quality and smooth supply of products and income generation.
In order to ensure high quality of energy efficiency technologies in the Cameroonian in particular and Central African market in general, we are trying to establish independent testing and advisory services for low cost energy efficient cooking, heating and ventilation technologies including improved cooking devices. We are also trying to work with and are lobbying governments, industry, universities, and research bodies to set up a standard for low income homes including related cooking, heating and ventilation technologies.
We are coordinating research and pilot projects for market studies and to disseminate energy efficiency measures, equipment, and renewable energy technologies for sustainable development throughout Central Africa.
ARPEDAC is currently monitoring the following (i) the first ten Biosand water filters, (ii) five improved stoves (3 clay stoves and 2 wood gas stoves), and (iii) 100kg briquettes (from waste paper and sawdust) which have all been manufactured at ARPEDAC's workshop. The boiling test has being used for the stoves. ARPEDAC is also using impact monitoring questionnaires. The monitoring is expected to be complete by the end 2011.
Relevant Publications or Studies
(i) Research on low income Household Energy Needs in Yaoundé 2, Cameroon (ii) Position paper on how Eco-house could contribute to reducing poverty and improve the quality of life of low income families in Cameroon
Our Contribution to the Partnership
ARPEDAC in Cameroon in particular and the Central Africa sub-region in general can: - Share research findings, experiences and case studies. - Engage actively in lobbying and advocacy work to influence local, regional or national strategy and policy in relation to household energy, indoor air pollution and health. - Organise workshops, seminars, and international conferences, and promote household energy, indoor air pollution and health energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and eco-buildings in Central Africa - Provide to members of the network an independent testing and advisory services for low cost energy efficient cooking, heating and ventilation technologies including improved cooking devices.