As the case with many other developing countries of the world, much of India's rural population still relies on the traditional biomass stoves for daily needs, thus increasing environmental health risks due to indoor air pollution. Cleaner Hearths, Better Homes draws on case studies from six Indian states—Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal—and other stove programs around the globe. It discusses India's best improved biomass stove programs and suggests policies and practical ways to promote the use of cleaner burning, energy efficient, and affordable stoves.

The book revisits Government of India's projects related to its legacy improved stove program. It looks at these older projects' positive features and translates them into a set of recommendations that would support a new generation of stoves and programs.

The findings in this book will be of interest to scholars, students, and researchers concerned with energy and environment studies. Policymakers and administrators, activists, and NGOs will also find it very useful.