RocketBox stove lighting. RocketBox stoves are sold by XelaTeco, of Quetzaltenango Guatemala (www.xelateco.com).

XelaTeco is a Guatemalan business, originally incubated by Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group (www.aidg.org). RocketBox is an 'improved wood stove', which uses less wood (50% more efficient) than the typical Guatemalan open-fire stove. Wood is a big expense for rural Guatemalans, carrying heavy bundles of wood often causes back injuries, and time spent wood-gathering keeps some rural children too busy to have time to go to school. Another big improvement is that the RocketBox stove has a chimney, where the vast majority of the smoke exits, avoiding causing lung problems to children and women. Cooking-fire smoke is the cause of the endemic lung problems found in rural areas of Guatemala. Another advantage is that the RocketBox stove is much safer for children and adults to not get burned, as the sides of this stove remain cool while the top is hot for cooking. 86% of Guatemalans who live in rural areas use wood stoves, so improved stoves have the potential to make a big impact on the health and economic well-being of many Guatemalans.

XelaTeco staff describe stove construction and features