Evaluating the Environmental and Economic Impacts of Shifting from Traditional Fuelwood to Electric Stoves in Rural Ngororero District, Rwanda.

Traditional cooking methods using open fires and inefficient biomass stoves pose serious health, environmental, and economic risks in developing countries. This study evaluates the environmental and economic impacts of shifting from traditional fuelwood to electric stoves in rural Ngororero District, Rwanda, using a cross-sectional quantitative design. Data were gathered from 385 systematically selected households via structured questionnaires, complemented by expert interviews from government, energy institutions, and academia to refine valuation parameters for cost-benefit analysis. Secondary data from official reports and literature supported the findings. Statistical tests assessed cost differences between cooking methods. Results showed that fuelwood use leads to high recurring costs and health impacts, while electric stoves offer long-term savings and health improvements despite initial barriers. The analysis confirms the economic and environmental viability of adopting electric stoves. The study recommends enhancing rural electrification, subsidizing stove adoption, and promoting awareness to support clean energy transitions in rural regions.