In many parts of the world, heat for cooking is problematic: tough on the pocketbook and the planet. When the Indian government quit distributing efficient stoves, Crispin Pemberton-Pigott of the South African firm New Dawn Engineering, decided to do something about it. The result: the Vesto Stove, a safe, compact, fuel source whose main component is a paint can, ensuring the item can be mass produced and cheaply sold. Burning about half as much dung (or kerosene) as a wood-burning stove, the easy-to-light Vesto is not only more efficient but much easier on the earth too. Just don’t plan on catering a large party. www.vesto.co.za —JS

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