Solar-powered, Eco-friendly ovens

The idea is simple and known....the goal is to replace or largely reduce the use of fire wood and other cooking fuels by use of self-built, solar-powered ovens as an alternative to traditional African cooking methods. This would be done by promoting the concept and integrating the use of simple, efficient solar ovens via information dissemination, attainment of resources and support in autonomous construction. Since solar energy is in great supply in Africa, while fossil fuels are not, it is practical and potentially limitless source to support daily cooking habits.

The main objectives:

-Improve health conditions of women and children in rural Africa by reducing the amount of hard physical labour (cutting and carrying wood, making coal)

-Reduce risk of health disorders for women and children in rural Africa due to carbon monoxide pollutants from traditional cooking stoves

-Reduce hands-on time needed to cook, which provides time for other activities

-Reduce emissions of ozone-depleting compounds due to smoldering fires (e.g. by charcoal)

-Reduce deforestation/consumption of fossil fuels

In order to make this a truly sustainable and self-driven venture, rural women will be invited to learn more about alternative energy use and methods for cooking through a system developed in which a form of "investment in kind" (either symbolic or actual) will be established in exchange for the technology transfer and access to materials needed. Women will be asked about their experiences with traditional cooking and informed about this alternative. Demonstrations of the materials needed and the contruction-process will be presented, as will demonstrations regarding its practical use for boiling water and cooking food. Prior to getting this project running, research must be performed regarding an assessment of material used (e.g. - whether "entirely" locally available materials can be employed, whether a cardboard box design is resilient enough, the possible use of recycled materials, etc.) and designs from existing solar ovens (e.g. - compare models, design complexity, technology available to render given designs).