Monday, May 23, 2011

Day 8: everyone needs "sun" love...

Sun (n.): the star that is the central body of the solar system, around which the planets revolve and from which they receive light and heat; a self-luminous heavenly body that radiates energy, especially heat and light. (thank you, dictionary.com)

Solar energy is hot, literally – solar panels, heaters, dehydrators, water heaters, the list is endless. Utilizing it in order to cook food though? Ohhh baby, you betcha :)

I've mentioned solar ovens in a few of my posts, but not the nitty-gritty details. Here's why they're hot:
  1. Utilizing solar ovens saves forests, animals, our lungs, energy and electricity bills, and just about everything else on this planet.
  2. They're super easy to make, and a great way to recycle cardboard, aluminum, mirrors, baskets, coolers, old clothes, paper, grass, straw, wood, trunks, pizza boxes...the list goes on and on!
  3. Because you can get real creative with them, it's a GREAT project for the family, schools, and CAMPS (cough, cough).
  4. SUN=FREE SOURCE OF ENERGY
  5. Food cooked in solar ovens tastes better – because of the slow-cooking process, nutrients are not zapped and the food retains most of it's natural flavor.
  6. Because you have to follow the sun in order to properly cook food, you become more connected to nature and the natural rhythm of the day.
Among these major reasons, solar ovens are making a huge impact in impoverished countries. Check out this incredible video:

So how do they work? Basically like a slow-cooker or crock pot, but through the principal of the greenhouse effect: sunlight is converted into heat energy, which is then used for cooking. A clear sky is required, but in certain climates solar ovens can be used on a cloudy day, as long as the food is put out early and there is overall more sun than not. Cooking food in dark pots and pans is most ideal because dark surfaces trap heat, whereas light colored surfaces don't. By reflecting extra sunlight onto one or more shiny surfaces of the pot, the heat potential is increased. Mirrors, aluminum foil, mirror-finish metals, and other shiny materials have all been used successfully for solar cooking, depending on the type of cooker and the environment in which it's used.

There are many kinds of solar ovens. Here's a few pictures from www.solarcooking.org, an NGO dedicated to spreading solar cooking awareness and skills worldwide. Their website contains a vast amount of information on solar ovens, from solar cooking basics to how to build your own!
Panel style cooker, dubbed the "Cookit"

Box-style cookers, much like the ones found here on Lotan
 What I find empowering about harnessing the Sun's energy is it's humbling simplicity – as technology becomes more advanced and the generations less in touch with the natural rhythms of the earth, we're finding ways to reconnect with nature and it's amazing gifts.


3 comments:

  1. Jessi, Your posts are so informative, well researched, well focused and fun to read. I am thinking, I would like a solar oven to make kichari! Camp is going to be a blast. Looking forward to your next installment. Love - Ima

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  2. I do not want to speak too soon but....I have a feeling we will be seeing a solar oven at camp this summer.

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  3. Here's the thing...I love these. May or may not be a little bit of an obsession...

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