Humos de la Patagonia

Problem:

In southern Chile, where over 75% of households depend on firewood for heating, inefficient combustion of damp wood drives extreme air pollution, with PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO guidelines by 500% in winter. This pollution contributes to a 15-20% increase in respiratory illnesses. Unsustainable logging and an invasive beaver population further harm ecosystems, with 25,000 hectares of native forest lost annually and 15 million trees felled in Tierra del Fuego.

Idea:

Humos de la Patagonia offers eco-logs as a sustainable heating alternative, using deadwood from invasive beaver activity and rejected recyclable paper and cardboard waste. This approach transforms waste into efficient fuel, reducing PM2.5 emissions and conserving native forests. These eco-logs provide an affordable, eco-friendly heating option for southern Chilean communities, addressing pollution, deforestation, and waste management issues in a single solution.

Main Beneficiaries:

Our beneficiaries include an estimated 100,000 households in southern Chile, particularly in regions from Ñuble to Magallanes, where wood heating is predominant, and our eco-logs offer an affordable, sustainable alternative. These communities, often facing high electricity costs and limited access to clean heating solutions, will benefit directly from reduced PM2.5 emissions and improved air quality. Additionally, our solution supports biodiversity conservation by alleviating deforestation pressures, and waste management facilities benefit from the upcycling of non-recyclable materials, contributing to a cleaner environment for all.

Stage:

Execution and validation

SDG:

GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

GOAL 13: Climate Action

University:

Universidad Andrés Bello (Chile)