A highly efficient and low emission wood-burning stove, designed in Mexico for low-income populations, received one of the Britain-based Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy. “I hope this recognition, which is the most important for those of us who work with sustainable technologies, calls the attention of the authorities and draws their support,” Omar Macera, team coordinator for the winning design, told Tierramérica. The stove is known as “Patsari”, an indigenous word translated as “the one who cares for”.

In Mexico, 25 million people continue to use firewood for cooking their food, which has grave consequences for the environment and for their own health.

The stove is an initiative of the non-governmental Interdisciplinary Group of Appropriate Rural Technology and the Autonomous National University of Mexico.

The Ashden Awards, which include prizes of up to 60,000 dollars, will be presented on Jun. 15 in London.