PROJECT BUHAY

Changing lives through improved cooking

Auditor/s: Carbon Check
Standard: Verra
Inception: 2022
First Issuance: 2025

Registration: VCS 3356
Status: In Progress
Households: 115,144
Support: ~30 households per Advocate

Sustainable Development Goals:

BACKGROUND

77% of households cook inside where smoke exposure from cooking is greatest

Health

Indoor air pollution is the 4th largest health risk globally, with over 4 million deaths each year
Open fires are dangerous, leading to burns, accidental fires, and scalding, especially in homes with small children
The Philippines ranks among the highest in Asia-Pacific for deaths due to household air pollution at 8.4 deaths per 10,000 people

Gender

Foraging long distances to collect wood exposes women and girls to the risk of harassment or assault
Women and children under 5 years old, who spend the most time near cooking fires, are the most affected by the associated health risks
Women and girls are disproportionately responsible for gathering fuel and cooking, reinforcing gender inequalities and limiting their opportunities for education or economic participation

Environment

Burning wood releases greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming
Open fires are highly inefficient, with much of the heat energy lost instead of being directed toward cooking
Open fires require large amounts of firewood, contributing to deforestation and the depletion of natural resources in rural areas
Project areas are in proximity to important biodiversity and watersheds areas
Areas have up to 97% deforestation from logging and farming activities

Education

60% of the population have at most an elementary education
Poverty significantly impacts education, with many children dropping out to work in farming
Secondary education is often inaccessible to remote and isolated areas

Project Buhay is the first clean cooking project in the Philippines

Buhay Stove Features

Easy to use and doesn’t require significant habit or cultural changes
3-4x more thermal efficient compared to traditional cooking methods resulting in up to 70% less woodfuel used
Reduces Particulate Matter* 2.5 by up to 90%
High quality materials proven to last 7-10 years
Components easily replaced/repaired

*Particulate Matter (PM) is a type of air pollutant that's extremely small and harmful to human health. It's made up of particles that are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter which can travel into and deposit on the surface of the deeper parts of the lung and body.

OUR IMPACT

Project Buhay’s Impact in Numbers

Data last updated December 31, 2024. Data is audited annually for accuracy by an independent firm.

115,114

Households

Among these households are 30,342 Indigenous Peoples, 11,729 solo parents, and 17,560 living within conflict hotspots.

90%

Reduced PM 2.5

Particular matter is a type of air pollutant that is extremely small (< 2.5 µm) and harmful to human health.

7,305

Employed

Of those employed, 80% are women, 60% are youth, and 20% are seniors.

70%

Less Woodfuel Used

Our stoves are 3-4x more thermal efficient compared to traditional cooking methods.

TRANSPARENCY

How we manage our projects

Community Engagement

Each community is engaged through an initial visit, where we introduce the project, its goals, and the benefits it offers. We collaborate closely with trusted individuals who have in-depth knowledge of the households within their community. These typically include local health officials, social welfare officers, and parish representatives, who help identify the households most suited for the project.

Project Participants

Following this, each household is visited to confirm their eligibility. Qualified households are provided with a ticket containing their name, address, and details about the upcoming training session and stove distribution event.

Household Selection Criteria
‍(a) Primarily below or near poverty level
(b) Resides in rural communities within our project boundaries
(c) Uses woodfuel with traditional open fire cooking
(d) Understands the importance of clean cooking for their household and the environment

Household Training

Before receiving a stove, each household attends a final training session covering topics like climate change, the health risks of traditional cooking methods, and the safe, efficient use of the stove.
To ensure effective learning, training sessions are staggered throughout the day with smaller groups, allowing for casual discussions and minimizing distractions.

Distribution

Stove distribution is typically conducted at centralized locations such as community halls, chapels, schools, or other accessible venues to minimize travel distances for participants.
Average distribution site size: 150

Follow Up Visits

Within a week of distribution, we conduct household visits to ensure the stoves are being used properly, review key training points, and address any issues or concerns.
We regularly visit households to monitor usage and provide ongoing support. We also stay in close communication with local partners to receive updates, feedback, and discuss ways to provide continued

Ongoing Engagement

We regularly visit rural schools to introduce essential topics such as climate change, clean cooking, and the transformative role of education in creating opportunities for a better future.
During these visits, we collaborate with teachers to identify areas where we can provide support and to recognize promising students who may qualify for our Hiraya Scholarship Program. These efforts help nurture future leaders and promote sustainable development within the community.
We actively collaborate with Diocese in each area, aligning our programs with their social projects and incorporating relevant themes into their masses and community events.
To foster community spirit and engagement, we organize events such as cooking contests during Fiestas. Channeling our inner Gordon Ramsay, we host lively cooking competitions where participants from various villages showcase their culinary skills, competing for the title of "best dish." These events combine education, fun, and community support, making them a unique platform for learning and celebration.

Digitization

Our purpose-built technology supports the execution of our projects. It streamlines registration, follow-up visits, and ongoing monitoring to ensure high-quality data with a body of evidence to support the work is being collected. Designed to work offline, it enables our teams to operate in the most challenging areas while still being able to deliver precise information.

Independent Audit

Auditors certified under the standard, that specialize in efficient stove projects, are appointed to conduct independent audits. The primary goals of the audit are: (a) Compliance: Verify that the project adheres to the approved methodology and meets the required standards.
(b) Accuracy: Maintain credibility by ensuring monitoring data is accurate, reliable, and free from inconsistencies.
(c) Effectiveness: Assess reductions in emissions and co-benefits to understand the project’s effectiveness.
(d) Credibility: Provide verified results to funders, partners, and regulatory bodies to build trust and secure continued support.
(e) Validate: Ensure emission reductions are accurately measured and meet verification requirements for carbon credit certification.
The auditor thoroughly reviews project documents, analyzes the monitoring report, and selects households for on-site visits.
After reviewing the submitted documentation, the auditor travels to the project area and spends several days conducting in-person interviews with monitors, community leaders, project participants, and partners to gain a comprehensive understanding of the project’s implementation.
Afterward, the auditor compiles a detailed report, which is submitted to the standard for review. Once the review is complete, the standard may issue credits as requested or adjust outcomes based on their findings.
To ensure impartiality, auditors are rotated throughout the project’s lifespan.

Implementation Partners

Let's Chat

We love forging new partnerships. If you’re interested in learning more about our projects, supporting our mission by purchasing carbon credits or exploring collaboration opportunities, we want to hear from you.

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