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The HELPS "ONIL" Stove
The story of the HELPS "ONIL" stove was born out of necessity and absolute importance. The story begins with the stove developer and program manager, Don O'Neal, who is an engineer by training and also a retired business-manufacturing executive. During his tenure as a HELPS volunteer, he has acted in many capacities in the HELPS programs that included being the Dallas Medical Team leader. He also enjoyed photographing the people of the Guatemalan Highlands and while in the role of medical team leader and photographer he became burdened with the many terribly burned children that were being treated on the medical teams.
He also noted the reports by the HELPS physicians that these people had terrible respiratory problems and all the symptoms of a very heavy smoker.
His "engineer and manufacturer" side took over and he began an investigation of the source of these burns and breathing issues and discovered a much bigger problem than he had imagined.
Throughout the centuries the Mayans have cooked using an open "three stone fire" on the floor of the house. Don discovered that this fire was the source of the horrible burns for the Mayan children and according to the World Health Organization, something much deadlier.
In his investigation of air quality issues he found that the EPA considers air "fit to breathe" if it contains less that 9 parts per million (ppm) of an odorless, colorless, poison called carbon monoxide (CO). OSHA's rules call for immediate evacuation of a building when levels of CO reach 100 ppm. Don measured homes with levels of CO as high as 160 ppm.
He immediately went to work creating a solution that would put the fire where is needed to be; in a stove. But this was more than just a stove, it would be a "state of the art" manufactured stove that would last for years and would require minimum maintaince.
Working with other organizations such as Aproveco in Eugene Oregon, Don developed his stove and field-tested it in a village in Guatemala for over one year. Taking this information he adjusted his design to fit technological and cultural considerations and then began production.
HELPS has a full time manager in Guatemala, Richard Grinnell, and a staff of installers and inspectors and are installing stoves according to the HELPS stove program.
The stove cost roughly $100 installed and the program has two manufacturing locations in Guatemala. The stoves are installed in the HELPS system and with partnerships with other NGO's.
The "ONIL"stove is not just a good idea. It is critical to the health and development of the Guatemalan people. Don's stove saves up to 70% of the firewood normally consumed, keeps the fire away from the children, and reduces the CO to less than 5 ppm. Incidentally, the stove name, "ONIL", is the name given by the Mayan women. We like it too.
You can see why the stove program is one of the pillars to the HELPS program. Be a partner with us and help change lives, not only of an individual or a family but also a nation.
If you want to learn more about the Stoves, see pictures and more Click Here
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