Himalayan Stove Project Goes Mainstream: Reaches 12 Mill. Through Costco Magazine

TAOS, N.M. (Dec. 6, 2016) – The need for clean cookstoves in the mountains of Nepal, a Third World country with a population of 28 million, is estimated at one million. The Himalayan Stove Project (HSP), a non-profit based in Taos, N.M., has shipped almost 4,000 fuel-efficient Envirofit stoves since it began shipments in 2011. Recent publicity in mainstream media brings hope of further nearing its goals.

In the December 2016 issue of Costco Connection, the magazine published by the multi-billion dollar global retailer, HSP founder George Basch was recognized as part of its “Changing the World” feature. Basch talks about the lack of ventilation in Nepali homes. “It’s a miserable environment,” he says, which the magazine concludes is an “environment unsuitable for human inhalation.”

Costco Connection has a circulation of 12 million. The HSP story is delivered online and in printed magazines to Costco’s 705 warehouse locations reaching 85 million members worldwide. The story can be viewed at www.costcoconnection.com (page 112) or http://tinyurl.com/georgebasch

The reaction to the story was almost immediate. Within days of the magazine reaching members by mail, and through in-store distribution, donations were being received through the HimalayanStoveProject.org website. Costco shoppers responded to suggestions to donate at the rate of $150 per stove, and/or purchase carbon offset credits that will benefit the organization as well as the environment.

The HSP’s new environmentally friendly Carbon Karma program allows donors to reduce their carbon footprint, the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities (expressed in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide – CO2). The average American has a carbon footprint of 20 tonnes of carbon per year.

The offsets are available through HSP and The Gold Standard organization which is endorsed by 80-plus NGOs and reviews more than 1,100 projects in 70 countries seeking certification.

Donors will receive a certificate acknowledging their generosity. Their gift recipients will also be notified who to thank.

To donate log onto: http://www.himalayanstoveproject.org/donate-now/

Basch says, “HSP can profoundly and positively influence the health of an entire Nepali family in 10 minutes – the time it takes to install a stove and reduce indoor air pollution by 90 percent, and consumption of fuel – wood, crop waste, and/or dung – by 75 percent, thus helping preserve the fragile Himalayan environment.”

“If stacked one atop the other, the stoves we’ve delivered to date would reach one-third of the way from Base Camp to the summit of Mount Everest. Reaching the summit would require 10,856 stoves so we still have a long trek ahead.”

The Himalayan Stove Project is based at 1335 Paseo del Pueblo Sur #305

Taos NM 87571, 505 363 8863, george@himalayanstoveproject.org

http://www.himalayanstoveproject.org/, #ReachTheSummit

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Media contact:

Jeff Blumenfeld

Blumenfeld and Assoc. PR

203 326 1200, jeff@blumenfeldpr.com 12-6-2016