Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right, but for more than 600 million Africans, it remains unattainable. Frequent power cuts and incompatible, power-hungry medical equipment makes it difficult and expensive to provide essential medical services to rural communities. This means patients suffer: mothers give birth in darkness, premature babies lack incubators to help them survive, and preventative care for a wide range of treatable conditions is unavailable.

Designing medical appliances tailored to the different energy settings across the continent is key to improving healthcare in off and weak-grid communities.

Mismatched equipment and energy

Medical equipment, from basic diagnostic equipment to life-saving devices like incubators and vaccine refrigerators, often fail in areas with unreliable energy. They are designed for stable grids in different contexts, which means that around 70% of medical devices in the Global South do not function and go unused. To date, little progress has been made in the adoption of energy-efficient medical appliances.

“Most of the electric medical appliances do not conform to the wiring system and their electricity demands are too high in terms of their voltage, leading to frequent damage of appliances and high electricity bills,” says Victor Ajumbo, the Facility in Charge at the Ober Kamoth Sub-County Hospital in Kisumu.

CLASP, in partnership with SEforALL, is studying the efficiency and performance of medical appliances in off and weak-grid clinics in Kisumu, Kenya–one of the first attempts to assess the suitability of conventional medical devices and appliances in energy-constrained settings. Findings from the Medical Appliances for Clinic Electrification project will help manufacturers design appliances that are better suited to these contexts and support governments in developing appropriate clinic electrification solutions.

Energy efficiency matters in healthcare

Reliable energy and efficient medical appliances are key to addressing Kenya’s healthcare energy gap, where 26% of facilities lack electricity and only 15% have access to reliable power. Many clinic electrification projects install energy systems that are too small or unreliable to meet the needs of their medical equipment. Frequent power cuts and voltage fluctuations often destroy the equipment. Studying the energy consumption of medical equipment is the first step to understanding the scale of the problem and designing appropriate appliances that can safely deliver reliable healthcare in these unique contexts.

“We can’t conduct baby deliveries when there is a power outage,” says Irene Akello, Facility in Charge at the Kuoyo Health Centre in Kisumu County. “It’s a risk the facility cannot take, so pregnant mothers are referred elsewhere. Reliable energy is essential to power critical devices like the resuscitaire (incubator), which supports babies born in critical condition.”

Reliable cooling creates opportunities for growth

Energy efficient appliances not only improve access to healthcare in complex settings but also greatly contribute to sustainability in Africa’s medical sector. Hospitals require around 119 kWh of electricity per square meter annually to function properly, making them one of the most energy-demanding institutions to run. To put this into perspective, a single hospital bed needs as much power as three to four single-family houses. Replacing the inefficient devices in medical facilities with energy efficient alternatives can help to reduce electricity consumption, which in turn cuts operating costs and reduces carbon emissions.

“The healthcare sector contributes 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions globally. Around 71% of that comes from supply chains, which include medical appliances. Transitioning to efficient appliances can lower this impact considerably while supporting clinics in off and weak-grid areas to buy the right equipment to serve their communities,” says CLASP’s Emily Bolo.

A path forward

Africa’s ever-changing landscape needs an energy system that matches its diversity and growth, and the demands that come with it. Efficient medical appliances are an important part of this system and can be a game changer for healthcare delivery in Africa’s off and weak-grid communities.

CLASP’s research in Kenya is a crucial step towards bridging the gap between energy and healthcare. With the right energy systems and efficient appliances that match them, under-resourced communities can come one step closer to rightly realising their fundamental human right to healthcare.

Read the groundbreaking report, “Medical appliances for resource-constrained settings.”

Sign up for our newsletter to read our upcoming report, “Efficient Appliances for Health Clinic Electrification,” launching in March 2025.

At the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP 29), UK Aid (FCDO) announced a substantial extension of their Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) program. This funding boost will help accelerate the adoption of clean cooking practices and transform the lives of millions of people across Africa, Indo-Pacific, and South and Southeast Asia. CLASP looks forward to continued collaboration with MECS to expand access to clean, modern cooking solutions.

Clean cooking: Good for people and planet 

The MECS programme is speeding-up the shift to clean cooking by driving research, testing new technologies, and tracking global tools and trends. It targets the 2.1 billion people—26% of the world’s population—who still rely on polluting fuels such as firewood and charcoal for their cooking. A transition to modern, clean cooking would help eliminate the harmful effect of these fuels on income, health, and the environment and have a profound social and economic impact on communities, especially on the women and children that bear the disproportionate burden of collecting fuel and preparing food.

MECS extension powers future impact  

The MECS extension builds on the six-year success of the MECS programme in advancing the clean cooking agenda globally. To date, the programme has helped 3.8 million people adopt cleaner, more efficient cooking practices that lower fuel use, improve air quality, and boost income. It has also attracted £400 million of additional investment for clean energy innovation and published over 300 research papers. This compelling evidence base has already informed the adoption in policy of electric cooking (e-Cooking) in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Aligning with the global goals  

The MECS programme budget will increase by £44 million, raising the total value to £99 million, and pushing its work to December 2030 to align with the target dates of the Sustainable Development Goals. This extension will enable the implementing partners to continue driving even more impactful clean cooking solutions. By 2030, MECS aims to improve clean cooking access for 10 million people, leverage £1 billion in investments, publish 650 research products, and influence policy adoption in 12 countries. The MECS extension is expected to have reach across 17 countries in Africa, Indo-Pacific, and South and Southeast Asia, where clean energy transitions are urgently needed.

About CLASP

CLASP is the leading global authority with 25 years’ expertise on how applianceefficiency drives climate mitigation, adaptation, and improves the lives and livelihoodsof people. An international non-profit with offices on four continents, CLASPcollaborates with policymakers, appliance manufacturers, and leading experts todeliver sound policy recommendations, innovative tools, ground-breaking research,and clear pathways to a more sustainable world for people and the planet.

This CLASP report presents insights from surveys of 8,000 demographically representative adults across eight European countries, France, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The research provides valuable data for European policymakers on ways to accelerate the transition to cleaner, more efficient electric hobs (cooktops).

The report examines European consumers’ views and behaviours concerning gas and electric hobs, focusing on their usage, preferences, energy efficiency awareness, purchase criteria, health perceptions, ventilation practices, and opinions on potential policy measures.

Key Findings

• Most Europeans support a shift to cleaner, safer, and healthier electric cooking, but they need more exposure to induction technology to be fully convinced of its benefits.
• Supportive pricing and clear information are key factors in encouraging the transition to electric cooking, as consumers tend to prefer more energy-efficient and less polluting products.
• Consumers lack accurate information about the real efficiency of different hob technologies; their views are shaped by their personal experiences and familiarity with the hobs they use.
• Europeans have limited awareness of the impact gas cooking has on indoor air quality and often fail to ventilate adequately while cooking.
• Consumers feel that it’s the manufacturers’ responsibility to reduce pollution from gas hobs, and governments should help support the transition to more efficient and healthier electric cooking.

Recommendations

• Consumers should be able to select the most energy-efficient and least polluting hobs. Ecodesign regulations should remove the least efficient and most polluting options from the market. Clear information on the health risks of gas hobs should be made available through instruction manuals, webpages, or displayed on a future energy label or warning icon on hobs and ventilation hoods.
• National governments should offer incentives to encourage the shift to electric cooking and ensure that electricity prices are competitive with gas.
• Consumer organisations, non-governmental organisations, and forward-thinking producers and retailers should inform consumers about the health risks of gas cooking and the benefits of electric hobs. A successful transition to cleaner, more efficient electric hobs requires consumers to experience a new electric technology firsthand.

The surveys address technical, behavioural, and policy questions related to hob usage, which have been raised by policymakers, industry, and civil society. Detailed results for each country can be found in the annexes.

To ensure objectivity and representative results, CLASP commissioned Opinium Research, an independent polling organisation, to conduct the surveys. CLASP analysed the Europe-wide data and compiled this report, which builds on Opinium’s national analyses and findings.

Visit our Cook Cleaner Europe webpage to view additional resources on gas and electric cooking.

The shift to induction stoves is gaining momentum in professional kitchens around the world, as demonstrated at the Global Cooksafe Coalition’s (GCC) launch in the United Kingdom on 3 June 2024. CLASP participated in the event, along with world-renowned chefs, public health and climate experts, and industry leaders. There was consensus in the call for a rapid transition from fossil fuel powered cooking to healthier, affordable, and safer electric kitchens powered by renewable energy.

Key Takeaways from the Event

• Culinary excellence: Modern electric cooking technologies provide excellent cooking performance for both professional and home kitchens as they offer precise temperature control and the ability to heat food faster.
• Health and safety: Transitioning to electric cooking can significantly improve indoor air quality and reduce health risks associated with gas cooking. Electric cooking also creates safer cooking conditions, with more manageable room temperatures for chefs, compared to open flame stoves. This reduces heat-related stress and fatigue and leads to higher productivity and better physical and mental health.
• Environmental impact: Electrifying kitchens is a critical step in decarbonizing restaurants and homes, lowering climate emissions, and achieving global climate targets.
• Economic viability: Electric stoves are much easier to clean than gas stoves, saving restaurant staff hours each week. In addition, renewable energy combined with electric appliances offers a cost-effective and stable energy solution, reducing dependency on volatile fossil fuel markets.

Top UK Chefs Embrace Electric Cooking

During the event, professional chefs and GCC ambassadors, John Chantarasak and Chantelle Nicholson, along with Chef Douglas McMaster, highlighted the advantages of electric cooking. They demonstrated how modern induction stoves offer precise control and superior cooking quality, dispelling common misconceptions about electric cooking’s limitations.

The Future is Electric

Chefs around the world are increasingly embracing electric alternatives like induction, making it a compelling option for households as well. Innovations in electric cooking technologies cater to all varieties of culinary needs.

By using electromagnetic energy to directly heat cookware, induction stoves produce less ambient heat, creating a safer, healthier, and more comfortable work environment, particularly during busy restaurant shifts. The absence of open flames on electric or induction stoves also reduces the risk of accidental fires and eliminates pollutants caused by burning gas.

Reducing Risks for Healthier Homes

Electrifying kitchens is a solution to growing health concerns. Cooking with gas releases toxic pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide and benzene, into kitchens and homes. It puts people at greater risk of respiratory diseases like asthma, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children or those with pre-existing health conditions. There is growing evidence linking combustion-related air pollution with adverse health effects on brain development in young children. For adults, emissions from gas cooking can lead to negative impacts on the brain, respiratory, and nervous systems.

Transitioning to electric appliances and ensuring proper ventilation can help lower the risks of gas cooking. For people who cannot adopt electric options, there are several ways to minimize exposure to gas cooking emissions. Find out how to improve the air quality in your home when you use a gas stove or oven.

About the Global Cooksafe Coalition

As a founding member of the GCC, CLASP supports the coalition’s mission by researching cleaner, more efficient electric alternatives while also addressing the health and environmental impacts of cooking with gas. Together, CLASP and GCC work for a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

More information about CLASP’s research on gas and electric cooking: www.clasp.ngo/cook-cleaner-europe

For more information about the GCC’s launch in the United Kingdom: www.cooksafecoalition.org/grosvenor-lendlease-electric

CLASP is collaborating with partner organizations and policymakers around the world to address the health and environmental impacts associated with open-flame cooking appliances, and increase the uptake of electric cooking.

CLASP research shows that gas and solid fuel stoves produce a cocktail of air pollutants within homes, posing significant risks to respiratory systems. These pollutants impact people and children with asthma more notably. However, the solutions already exist: transitioning to electric cooking appliances. Replacing open-flame stoves with cleaner, energy-efficient electric alternatives remains the healthiest and safest option available.

Addressing Gas Cooking

Cooking with gas emits a cocktail of pollutants, one of them, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), is formed when gas flames react with oxygen in the air. A recent CLASP study conducted in Europe found that levels of NO₂ in households with gas cooking appliances often exceed WHO air quality guidelines. In fact, indoor air quality, particularly in gas-cooking households, can often be poorer than outdoor air quality.

CLASP is working with the European Commission to introduce NO₂ limits into the Ecodesign standards that govern cooking appliances. More information on CLASP’s research and recommendations on gas and electric cooking in Europe can be found here.

Tackling Solid Fuel Cooking

In regions like Africa and South East Asia, millions rely on burning solid fuels, like coal, firewood, and biomass for cooking. This has significant health consequences.

“The evidence is clear: transitioning to electric cooking is a vital step towards protecting respiratory health and reducing air pollution. CLASP is fostering healthier homes and communities worldwide by promoting cleaner, safer, and more sustainable, energy-efficient cooking appliances, to make a tangible improvement on people’s lives.” Sam Grant, Senior Director of Clean Energy Access at CLASP

To mitigate the air pollution caused by cooking methods in Rwanda and Uganda, CLASP is encouraging the widespread adoption of affordable electric pressure cookers. In India, CLASP promotes the adoption of efficient induction cookstoves, as a cleaner alternative to traditional solid fuel cooking appliances.

Understanding the Respiratory Risks

Air pollution stands among the World Health Organization’s (WHO) top ten global health concerns. The WHO considers NO₂ a dangerous air pollutant that can cause serious respiratory problems, including, “…bronchoconstriction, increased bronchial reactivity, air way inflammation and decrease in immune defense leading to increased susceptibility to respiratory infection.”

Those already suffering from asthma symptoms are particularly sensitive to the pollutants emitted by gas and solid fuel cooking appliances.

“Electric cooking is not just about preparing meals: it is about safeguarding our health. NO₂ exposure, brief or prolonged, harms respiratory health. Studies indicate that switching to electric cooking could prevent as many as 700,000 children in Europe from developing asthma, making up 12% of all cases. Recognizing these risks, EPHA is mobilizing the public health community and advocating for policy changes that promote electric cooking, safeguard respiratory health, and ensure a healthier future for all.” Sara Bertucci, Policy Manager at the European Public Health Alliance

Clean Cooking Solutions

Both health and air quality experts recommend accelerating the transition to electric cooking. To minimize exposure to cooking pollutants, effective ventilation practices can be beneficial, but the ultimate solution is adopting plug-in electric appliances. Governments have a pivotal role to play by enforcing stricter appliance standards and incentivizing the widespread and equitable adoption of electric cooking appliances. Manufacturers and healthcare professionals should also inform people about the indoor air pollution linked with gas and solid fuel cooking appliances, as well as possible alternatives.

Collective action from policymakers, manufacturers, and healthcare professionals can ensure significant progress is made in reducing people’s exposure to cooking emissions and promoting respiratory health.

Despite advancements in electric cooking technologies, millions of households across Europe still rely on gas for cooking. Gas cooking appliances contribute to high levels of indoor air pollution and pose substantial health, environmental, and economic challenges.

CLASP’s has produced incisive factsheets on gas cooking trends in six countries. These provide insights and policy recommendations, covering consumer trends, as well as health, environmental, and cost concerns in these countries:

• France
• Italy
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Spain
• United Kingdom

The Risks and the Solutions

CLASP’s research reveals elevated levels of NO₂ in homes using gas stoves and ovens compared to those using electric alternatives. These levels exceed benchmarks set by World Health Organization guidelines and European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) limits for outdoor air pollution.

• Health Impacts: Exposure to high levels of pollution is known to cause strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma.
• Climate Change: Gas cooking contradicts net-zero and emissions reduction targets, highlighting the need to transition to electric alternatives. The reliance on fossil fuels for domestic cooking contributes to indoor air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, undermining efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
• Consumer Trends: Despite health and environmental concerns, many consumers remain unaware of the risks of gas cooking.
• Cost Considerations: Gas cooking masks significant societal costs. While gas appliances may offer initial cost savings in some cases, the hidden costs associated with indoor air pollution, such as healthcare expenses and environmental impacts, outweigh any apparent economic benefits.
• Policy Recommendations and Regulatory Measures: In the EU and the UK, Ecodesign and Energy Labelling policies provide opportunities to advance energy-efficient and healthier electric alternatives. At the national level, governments can accelerate the transition to electric cooking through electricity tariff reforms, targeted subsidies, awareness campaigns, and holistic support. Incentives and financial assistance programs can encourage households to adopt electric cooking technologies, facilitating a shift towards cleaner and more sustainable cooking practices.

For more information on the topic, visit https://www.clasp.ngo/cook-cleaner-europe/.

Have you ever wondered about the health and environmental impacts of cooking with gas? CLASP asked Professor Frank Kelly from Imperial College London, Dr. Laura Reali, a pediatrician at the Italian Public Health System, and Tony Renucci, managing director at Respire, to shed some light on the topic.

• What happens to the air in our homes when we use gas cooking appliances?

CLASP research confirms that gas stoves and ovens emit harmful pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) directly into people’s homes. These substances can have detrimental effects on our respiratory systems and overall health.

• What are the health risks linked to cooking with gas?

Gas-cooking households experience elevated levels of NO₂, an air pollutant linked to respiratory diseases like asthma. Research by the World Health Organization (WHO) on NO₂ found: “The main health outcomes of interest are respiratory symptoms, bronchoconstriction, increased bronchial reactivity, airway inflammation and decrease in immune defence leading to increased susceptibility to respiratory infection.”

However, the health risks associated with gas cooking extend beyond respiratory issues. Studies suggest that exposure to gas emissions can impact everything from our lungs to our brains, affecting individuals across all stages of life. Find out more about the health risks in this CLASP report.

• Are some people more sensitive to the health impacts linked to cooking with gas?

Due to their developing lungs, children have a heightened sensitivity to pollutants. People with pre-existing health conditions, and the elderly are also more vulnerable to the health impacts of gas cooking. The WHO found that children living in homes with gas cooking appliances have a 20% increased risk of respiratory illnesses. It’s crucial to understand and address these vulnerabilities to protect those most sensitive to the risks of cooking with gas.

• Are people aware of the impacts of cooking with gas?

Many people are unaware of the elevated levels of indoor air pollution created by gas cooking. As a result, there is a lack of awareness among the general population on the health risks linked to the use of gas cooking appliances.

According to consumer surveys conducted in 2023 by CLASP and Opinium Research, in France, 53% of surveyed adults believe that the use of gas cooking appliances isn’t linked to any health issues, whereas only 34% of adults in the United Kingdom have concerns over cooking with gas appliances in their homes. CLASP found that between 58 and 74% of consumers in Europe would consider getting rid of their gas cooker if they knew it was linked with health issues.

• What can people do to protect themselves from the health risks linked to cooking with gas appliances?

People can minimize their exposure to gas cooking emissions in a number of ways. From switching to electric cooking appliances, to ensuring proper ventilation, simple actions can help reduce the health risks associated with gas cooking. Find out how to improve air quality in your home when you have a gas hob or oven here.

• Why is now the right time to switch to electric cooking alternatives?

Given the mounting evidence that links emissions from gas cooking appliances with health risks, now is the time for governments and policymakers to incentivize the transition to safer, efficient electric alternatives. CLASP research reveals that in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK), over 180 million people are at risk of exposure to levels of indoor air pollution that exceed the EU and WHO recommended levels for outdoor air pollution. In addition, approximately €3.5 billion is spent annually in the EU and £1.4 billion in the UK in health-related costs linked to indoor air pollution from gas cooking.

• What is the solution?

To protect public health and reduce the national health costs related to cooking with gas, governments should accelerate and incentivize the transition to electric alternatives. Policymakers can tackle indoor air pollution at the source through Ecodesign standards and energy labeling policies, and define appropriate limits for indoor pollutant levels.

With energy-efficient electric options widely available in the market, it’s time to reconsider our reliance on gas appliances and embrace a cleaner, healthier way forward to protect both people and the planet.

For more information on the topic, visit https://www.clasp.ngo/cook-cleaner-europe.