Solar Cookers International Interview
Approximately 3 billion people cook their food over open fires. Not only is fueling an open fire a drain on time and resources, but the smoke and ash can have a lasting impact on respiratory health.
Solar Cookers International champions thermal cooking that relies solely on the sun’s heat.
Find out about the environmental, health and financial benefits that come from helping communities around the world make the switch.
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November 2, 2021
Solar Cooking Can Drastically Cut Our Carbon Footprint And Improve Our Health
#303 Great.com Talks With... Solar Cookers International
A family that cooks its meals over an open fire can burn through well over a ton of wood in a single year - a significant carbon footprint. But they can operate a solar cooker without needing to chop down a single tree. In this episode we talked with Caitlyn Hughes from Solar Cookers International about improving human and environmental health with solar thermal cooking technology.
How Does A Solar Cooker Work?
There are many different kinds of solar cookers (also known as solar ovens), with differing levels of sophistication. You can build a very basic model yourself with as little as a cardboard box, some black paper and a sheet of aluminum foil.
A solar cooker relies on basic principles. With a reflective surface, we can direct sunlight into a container that traps heat. Something dark in color like a cooking pot then absorbs it. This heat can be used to cook food.
Caitlyn explains that partnering with community leaders in the developing world is essential for rolling out solar cookers. Giving a community the resources to build an array of solar cookers allows them to gain a sense of ownership, and it’s much more sustainable and scalable than shipping cookers all over the globe.
Why Use A Solar Oven?
The advantages of helping communities adopt solar cookers are numerous. Firstly, there are obvious financial benefits; some families spend a staggering 40 percent of their household income on fuel for cooking. Secondly, there are health benefits. Many women and children who cook over open fires suffer chronic health issues related to the wood smoke. Thirdly, there are the environmental benefits that come with burning fewer trees, which produce more greenhouse gasses by volume than fossil fuels.
Listen to the whole interview to find out about the many applications of solar cookers and how different types of cookers, such as the parabolic solar cooker, can be designed to suit different cooking styles and dishes. Solar Cookers International also welcomes donations. Want to learn more about Solar Cookers International? You can subscribe to their latest publications, follow their blog and find them on Facebook and Twitter.
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