Associated organisationsKarakoram International University · Lahore University of Management Sciences · McGill University · Aga Khan University (Pakistan)Europe PMC affiliations are not treated as award recipients or mapped locations.
Funding£2.0M
PeriodOct 2025 — Oct 2028
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
In rural Pakistan, families burning wood and dung for cooking and heating are being given solar- and hydro-powered electric stoves and heaters to see if the switch cuts illness. More than half of rural households in Pakistan rely on biomass fuels, whose smoke contains fine particles and toxic gases linked to lung disease, heart problems, poor pregnancy outcomes, and eye and skin conditions. Cleaner alternatives exist but remain out of reach for many low-income communities without reliable electricity. This cluster-randomized trial, running across two regions, will test whether green-powered appliances—charged by centralized or household-level solar and micro-hydro systems—can practically replace biomass stoves. Researchers will measure indoor air quality every two weeks and track respiratory function, blood pressure, skin and eye health, and mental health and pregnancy outcomes in participating households. If the intervention works, the findings could inform national policy for shifting rural energy use toward renewables, reducing both household air pollution and carbon emissions. The team will also model the costs and health benefits of scaling up such systems across Pakistan, giving policymakers concrete data on what a clean-energy transition would cost and deliver.
View original technical description
A significant proportion of rural households in Pakistan rely on biomass fuels for cooking and heating, contributing to household and environmental air pollution and health risks. Biomass combustion releases harmful pollutants, including PM2.5, CO, and volatile organic compounds, linked to respiratory, cardiovascular, skin, and eye illnesses and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. Green energy presents a sustainable alternative, particularly for low-income populations with limited access to cleaner fuels and sustained electricity.This cluster-randomized trial will evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of green-powered (solar and/or hydro-powered) electric stoves and heaters in reducing household air pollution and improving health across two regions of Pakistan. Villages will be randomized into intervention and comparison arms; intervention households will receive battery-operated electric stoves/heaters, powered by centralized/decentralized solar or micro- hydro sources. Comparison clusters will continue using biomass fuel.Air quality will be monitored biweekly using advanced equipment and laboratory measures, and health assessments will include respiratory function, blood pressure, skin conditions, eye symptoms, and pregnancy and mental health outcomes. Feasibility will be assessed through compliance, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness.The study will model the impact of scale-up on air pollution, health, and economics at national level to support policies for shift to renewable energy and climate mitigation.
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