Solar cookers

Over 100 000 refugees from Bhutan have been living in the southern part of Nepal since 1990. In the last few years, more and more of them have gained access to solar cookers for food preparation.  This simple but effective solar cell technology prevents the local forest from being raided in the hunt for firewood and has dramatically reduced the use of paraffin for cooking.

In many countries, food preparation is the biggest user of energy in daily life. 2.6 billion people in developing countries cook with charcoal, organic waste or firewood, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). A number of countries use fossil fuels such as propane and paraffin. Increased use of solar cookers yields a significant environmental benefit per household.

The health benefit is also great. Every year as many as 1.3 million people, primarily women and children, die prematurely due to indoor pollution caused by burning biomass. In the Nepalese refugee camp, solar cookers provided by the UN have replaced the paraffin burners.  The air in the refugee camp has become better and the inhabitants have fewer respiratory illnesses. 

There are two types of solar cookers. One type is a parabolic dish that reflects the sun’s rays directly to a centrally-placed pot which quickly reaches a high temperature. The other type which is more common, however, is the simpler “box cooker” in which the pot is placed in an insulated box with a glass or plastic lid and often reflective sides. The sun’s heat is absorbed by the pot.  The Norwegian Jon Bøhmer recently won the Financial Times Climate Change Challenge with his Kyoto Box – a cardboard solar cooker. The illustration shows a woman preparing food for her family with her new parabolic solar cooker in the refugee camp at Nepal. The solar cooker has to be turned every ten minutes. It takes about 55 minutes to cook an average family meal.

Read more:
http://solarcooking.org/
http://solarcookers.org/
http://kyoto-energy.com/
http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/04/09/nyheter/miljo/klima/oppfinnelser/utenriks/5677081/
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/84ba167c-2489-11de-9a01-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/index.asp