Brick kiln heat loss reduction reduces emissions.

• Bangladesh has the second-worst air quality in the world, with PM2.5 concentration over 15 times the World Health Organisation’s suggested limit.

• Brick kilns are a major contributor to this crisis, with previous efforts to improve the local brick-making industry proving limited.

• A study conducted by researchers from the U.S., Bangladesh, and India found room for low-cost interventions to improve the brick-making industry.

• The proposed interventions included single fireman continuous fuel feeding, improved brick stacking, a thicker ash layer on the kiln top, cavity wall closure, and complementary use of powdered biomass fuel.

• The study was performed on zigzag kilns, where raw bricks are stacked to increase exposure to hot air.

• The researchers found no differences in adoption rates based on incentives beyond improving operating efficiency.

• Compliant kilns saw a 23% drop in energy use, a 20% drop in carbon dioxide and PM2.5 emissions, higher brick quality, and lower fuel cost per brick.

• The lower emissions have important public health implications, with the researchers predicting that if the project is scaled nationally, carbon dioxide emissions could be brought down by 2.4 million metric tonnes in a single brick-firing season.

• The researchers believe their interventions can be scaled up across Bangladesh and South Asia.