HOME MADE ENERGY SAVING JIKO.

BySANI-Kenya Team

Homemade energy saving jiko is an improvement of the African traditional open 3,4 or 6 stoned jiko depending on the communities. The jikos are made with liners, encased with clay mud reinforced with pebbles on its walls and base of fire box to make it strong. 

Benefits. 

  • Reduce fuel consumption leading to a significant cost saving for household. 
  • Emits less smoke hence less harmful to human health.
  • Uses less fuel leading to low demand for firewood.
  • Saves time used in cooking since it retains heat for a long time.
  • Very stable during cooking. 

Limitations. 

  • The jiko wears out thus requires routine maintenance. 
  • Construction work requires skills. 
  • The liners are not easily accessible in most local markets.

Ways for proper use. 

  • Use dry firewood.
  • Cover the cooking pot to reduce cooking time.
  • Utilizes residual heat for cooking.
  • Regular cleaning.
  • Require regular maintenance.

NOTE: When used efficiently, it saves half of the firewood used in a traditional stone jiko. 

Materials required. 

  • Jiko liner 
  • Clay soil/ant hill soil.
  • Wood ash. 
  • Small stones (pebbles) 
  • Water 
  • Spade, jembe, panga, knife.
  • Fresh cow dung.
  • Murram 

Procedure.

  • Mix clay /ant hill soil with murram in the ratio of 1:1 thoroughly using spade or jembe. Gradually add water as you mix until the dough is ready for molding the jiko. 

Setting the fire place. 

  • Set the jiko liner at the corner of the house.
  • Give space between the wall and the jiko, then measure using the hand. Between the walls and the jiko to be one hand and space for the liner to take two hands.
  • Excavate the circle to 5cm depth. 
  • Fill in the excavated area with pebbles. 
  • Seal the area with already mixed clay mud. 
  • Firm the surface by hitting with a flat smooth surface tool. 
  • Place the jiko liner at the center of the foundation
  • Start building by placing pebbles around the jiko, using already mixed mud then mold the jiko while pressing hard. 
  • Continue until its levels with pot rests. 
  • Open the fire gate while the pot is still in place. 
  • While rotating, remove the pot then smoothen the surface of the upper opening. 
  • Create the pot rest and slice some inches off the top band layer to ensure ventilation to limit smoke emissions. 

Curing process. 

Routinely seal any cracks with fresh cow dung mixed with ash. Continue daily until cracks stops. 

  • Once completely dry, light a fire inside and let it burn for half an hour until all the organic materials from the soil are burned and the smoke ceases. 
  • In case a section falls off due to damage, remove it using a knife, sprinkle the site with water, then patch it up with well-mixed mud. 

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