Impact of Green Energy for Cooking and Heating on Household Air Pollution and Health in Rural Communities of Pakistan

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.