+ Shine It All Around

It has been estimated that over 50% of the trees cut globally are used for cook fires. Gathering wood and burning fires requires tremendous effort and has a significant impact on the environment, communities and families. A great example of user-need focused concept that helps improve the quality of life for families is the solar oven. While a solar oven is not the magic silver bullet, it can be used to significantly reduce the amount of these problems and costs. The other part of the effort is getting the ovens to those families and communities.

The mission of the Solar Oven Society is to provide low-cost, effective, durable, attractive solar ovens, education and training to help families in sun-rich, fuel poor countries improve their environmental, health, nutrition, time and financial resources.

To learn more we spoke with Michael Port, Executive Director, Solar Oven Society

How much does the purchase of SOS sport solar oven in the US help someone else in another country?

When an oven is purchased here at the retail price helps us offer the oven at a very reduced rate to people overseas who really need an oven on a daily basis.
The oven is intended to part of the kitchen, it is not intended to replace traditional cooking completely, but it is a huge help to those families.
The ovens are not free, and we encourage people to never give the ovens away. Often times the people using the ovens are in cities, and traditionally are using up to 1/3 of their income for fuel, 1/3 for food, and 1/3 for housing. So even at a cost of $25 to $30 US dollars, if they save $5 a month in fuel costs, they can recoup the cost the of oven relatively quickly.


Many households in the US have some sort of oven range in their kitchens, as well as a microwave oven and an outdoor grill. How does a solar oven fit in beyond being another novelty appliance or piece of camping gear?

One of our upcoming efforts is to begin working selectively with power companies to include information flyers in utility bills on how the solar oven can reduce energy consumption, the other benefits it can proved and directing them to our website. We feel strongly that this can help people begin to consider and use alternatives. Most people cannot to afford to go out and purchase a photo voltaic cell based solar energy system for their homes, but they can easily begin to use the ovens and realize the sunshine can cook some of their meals and explore what else can it do for them. Another benefit is that the oven's main casing is made from recycled post-consumer PET plastic. Another way this will be successful is through word of mouth. When people know the ovens work they are more likely to be supportive of our overseas efforts.

Another thing that benefits the user regardless of locale is that slow cooking is more nutritious. The oven is safe, pollution free and cannot burn food!

An interesting feature of the solar oven is the use of the oven to pasteurize water. I was wondering what the combination of slow sand filtering could provide for people needing potable water?

If water is 150 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or more the waterborne bacteria and parasites are killed. The SOS Sport solar oven comes with a simple to use WAPI (water pasteurization indicator) that provides a sure test for water pasteurization. If there is sediment, etc the water may still need to be filtered, so a combination of slow sand filtering and heat pasteurization would be good way to get potable water without boiling.
We are also working with some retired 3M engineers to develop a system to pasteurize even more water quicker.

It has been estimated if we can somehow capture the energy that the earth receives from the Sun in 10 minutes time, that would be enough to supply the entire population for a year. We have a ways to go, but one thing our country is good at is coming up with solutions when we have to.


The Solar Oven Society has an outstanding website that provides an abundance of information:
http://www.solarovens.org/

+ solar powered water sourcing

Water is essential to all the living communities on the planet. When looking for answers to challenges such as obtaining fresh water for the ever growing demand world wide, it makes sense to examine a range of possibilities. Consider how things work in nature. The hydrologic cycle is largely powered by solar radiation. The combination of knowledge and appropriate technology can offer some solutions that can help meet this basic human need.

.

The WaterPyramid combines state of the art technology, capacity building and local entrepreneurship in order to achieve a long lasting (financial) sustainable situation.

+ Concept: LUTW LED Housing Redesign

We were inspired by the work of LUTW and wanted to take a quick look at how we might be able to improve the delivery of light to developing countries. This is a redesign of the existing LUTW LED housing, focusing on cost of delivery, user experience, and quality of light.

The LUTW System
The LUTW system consists of two LED lights in mountable housing, a solar panel, a rechargeable battery to store the power, and electrical wiring to connect it all. Volunteer technicians generally install the systems in small towns and variations on the system are available.


The Redesign
Our concept for updating the LUTW LED housing is a simple object that snaps together to capture the LED PCB and lens. The two sides are identical and can be created from the same mold. The housing has features molded in that allow it to be easily mounted, wired, and accessed for service. The loops on the edge of the housing serve as an easy interface for adding a shade to control the quality of light.


The redesign aims to reduce the cost of manufacture by reducing the number of parts in the system and the weight for transport. The concept is limited in its impact to just the LED housing, but it is hoped that with further research we can address the full system of lighting.