Africa: Solar Cookers, Efficient Stoves Help Rural Families Worldwide

[jpak]

http://allafrica.com/stories/200709131193.html

he use of technologies that combine solar power and energy efficiency is helping a growing segment of the more than 3 billion people in the developing world who burn traditional biomass fuels -- including wood and animal dung -- indoors for cooking and heating.

The current cooking practice, according to the World Health Organization, traps high levels of pollutants in the living area and causes 1.6 million premature deaths every year, mainly among women and children.

It also ravages trees, brush and other ground cover, promoting erosion and flooding in many areas that already are vulnerable to such occurrences.

"If this is the last tree in the whole country," Patricia McArdle told USINFO, referring to a photograph from Afghanistan, "and that lady has to cook dinner, she will cut that tree down and take it home. That's why we have to work with governments to implement these policies locally and promote the use of solar cooking."

<more>

[kestrel91316]

1. There is no earthly reason why solar cookers couldn't be used throughout

the US. Other than people would consider it beneath their dignity.

Silly reason to be destroying the planet, if you ask me.

http://solarcooking.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cooker
http://www.sunoven.com/

[hermetic]

2. I have a SunOven

I LOVE it! It's so easy and cooking without burning any type of fuel gives one a really good feeling. Like when you grow your own vegetables.

[amandabeech]

3. In what part of the country do you live?

Can you use it year-round?

[hermetic]

4. I'm in the northeast.

You can use it any time the sun is shining. Even if there's snow on the ground.

[amandabeech]

5. I've read about these elsewhere.

A lot of people outside the sunbelt were having problems with getting them to heat up enough.

I'm glad to hear that your experience has been better.

[diane in sf]

6. Many of the really poor people stripping the forests for firewood live near the equator.

I used a not really good, cardboard and foil solar oven to successfully heat food at Burning Man a few years ago. The metal ones with a really focused cooking area are much more powerful.