Integrated Solar Cooking

Sponsor: Rotary Club of Fresno, District 5230 USA

Introduction: What is Integrated Solar Cooking?
Offering sustainable technology to the residents of impoverished countries; empowering them to improve their quality of life.

The Integrated Cooking Method relies on these basic elements:
  • Solar (sun's free energy as a supplement to fuel wood)
  • Six brick or boot type "Rocket" Stoves (fuel and energy efficient)
  • Hay basket (heat retained cooker-similar to a thermos)
  • Water Purification Instrument (WAPI)
The program utilizes all three methods because Mother Nature is fickle at times. When the sun shines we opt to use the solar cookers to cook the food. When it is overcast or raining we use the "Rocket" stoves, which burn small twigs, brush, or biomass. Hay baskets are used to complete the cooking process or keep food hot for 4 - 6 hours. WAPIs are used to indicate when water is pasteurized-clean for drinking.

The Project vTeach promote, and create sustainable integrated cooking technology using Solar Cookers, Rocket Stoves and Hay-baskets.
The Project empowers women to make improvements in the quality of life for themselves and their children - health, sanitation, and hygiene. Planning and execution of project is done by women to meet their needs and to make it successful and sustainable thereby:

  • 1.Improving health and nutrition
    • a). It's free (solar), or nearly free (rocket stove)
    • b). Time saver in areas of the world where women and children spend many hours collecting fuel wood for their cooking Enables mothers to take better care of their children Improves the economy, time to pursue making handicrafts for sale Less time spent collecting food - children able to stay in school
    • c).Less injuries to children and women caused by using open fires
  • 2). Providing nutritious food Retains nutritional value of the food - combats malnutrition Slow cooking produces tender digestible food Waterless cooking except for beans, rice, lentils No stirring is necessary in solar cooking
  • 3). Reduces eye and lung disease and burns on children Solar cooker/ovens are pollution free Integrated cooking is virtually smokeless "Rocket" stoves use 75% less fuel, fuel burns at high heat and therefore are virtually smokeless Improves the quality of family life and health
  • 4). Provide safe drinking water Solar cooker/ovens and "Rocket" stoves pasteurize water for safe drinking water. Water Purification Instrument indicates when the water is safe to drink (One billion children suffer from diarrhoea caused by drinking contaminated water. Five million die from water borne diseases)
  • 5). The combination is Environmentally Friendly as it Reduces deforestation erosion and soil infertility Solar energy is effective, non-polluting, and inexhaustible Restores the habitat allowing Animals, birds, butterflies to reappear and the land is more productive, leading to more abundant crops and cleaner air
The hands-on workshops provided by the sponsors empower women as teachers and trainers in the use of the Integrated Cooking method followed with Home Visits to end user. All components of the project are manufactured in country.

Project web site http://www.integratedsolarcooking.com

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