Stove Usage - Input Parameter Protocol

There are different approaches to measuring the amount of time that emissions sources are running, which include: a direct measurement with stove use sensors, assessment from participant reports, and direct observations by study staff. Direct, sensor-based stove usage measurements are considered the most accurate and reliable method for determining cooking time. Surveys or time activity diaries can also be used to estimate cooking time, but alone, they are limited due to participant recall bias and inaccurate memory. It is recommended that direct usage measurements or direct enumerator observations are used in addition to surveys.

This document provides guidance on applying techniques for measuring stove usage, focusing on sensor-based measurements. Example instructions using iButton sensors are provided in the Annex, though all stoves, sensors, and contexts require their own specific procedures, which should be piloted extensively prior to large-scale deployments.

The WHO air quality model requires stove use time as an input, as the longer stoves are in use, the greater the contributions to the indoor air pollution, and vice versa. The protocols described here provide the means to estimate the mean and standard deviation inputs required for the model.