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Pitch

Direct (thermal) solar power for cooking by the two billion poorest people on earth can change the path of desertification & ozone depletion


Description


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Training women in the developing world, which is largely concentrated in the sun rich, fuel poor regions of Africa, Latin America and Asia, to use the power of the sun for their daily cooking supplemented by high efficiency stoves for dark hours, and heat baskets for extended cooking hours, can dramatically affect the health, nutrition, environment and economics of the developing world. Training and retraining are essetial to change ingrained cooking habits. The result will be a society with the benefits of better health, time and funds for micro enterprise, education, better agricultural practices and better nutrition.

Training of women with support from the local and national governments, to use solar cookers, manufacture them locally and acquire practices with which to have a safe and reliable means of cooking and providing safe drinking water for one's family daily is our goal.  Introductory groups of trainers, introduced to villages with the necessary supplies of cookers and designs for cheap local manufacturing for periods of two weeks of training is our mode of introduction. These training sessions should be repeated every three months for a year to reinforce the process, adapt to the newer method and learn new recipes.  This can make for a transition from low grade or expensive fuels to healther and cheaper soltuions which positively affect many aspects of life. 

An understanding of the repeated nature of training that is needed, the integration of fuel efficient stoves for non sunny times and and the introduction of hot boxes for extended cooking that does not require fuel, makes for a fully integrated solution to the use of low grade or costly fuels that degrade the environment and health of all.

TEAM:  

SOLAR COOKERS INTERNATIONAL, has been working towards spreading the use of solar cooking for many years.  We have learned that an integrated approach that solves the many problems is essential along with groups of trained trainers.

We are composed of experts in the technology of solar cooking, experienced field workers and dedicated advocates, but need economic support to break through to major projects in developing countries.

WHAT:

Approximatel 1/3 of the contamination of the ozone layers is presumed by scientists to be derived from low grade cooking fires. (See NY Times).  Eliminating more than 75% of that contamination for two billion people can have a dramatic impact on the climate of the earth.  Desertification in much of the developing world is the result of the daily search for cooking fuels. In Kenya in the past few  years, the forested regions declined from 18% to less than 2%.  This rapid destruction of wood and then the eco culture is evident and far gone in many countries including Haiti and Afghanistan. Elimination of that daily need for cheap fuel will dramatically affect the likelihood of regeneration of the ecoculture the health of the society and the economic options available to families.  

Women and children now spend about 6 hours per day gathering fuels, going further from home and more subject to roberies, rape and kidinapping. Reducing that burden means time for micro enterprises and school and funds for better food.  Contaminated indoor air from cooking fires means that millions of women and children get lung diseases, blindness and die annually.  Eliminating that danger by 75% can reduce this problem greatly.

We envision that solar cooking will become the preferred and shared means of cooking by village women and city women as well (with a well placed balcony or patio). This will provide time, money and security for a better life. It will reduce the cutting down of wood and gathering of weeds and dung. It will provide a preferred means of cooking that is healthier on all levels.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

A practical and inexpensive solution that requires only changes in life habits and inexpensive means of providing safe drinking water, safe food and time and funds for a better life is readily at hand.  This is different because it is so very simple, obvious and practical

Executive summary

Overview of the proposal: what it hopes to achieve, the proposed actions and anticipated outcomes, mechanisms by which the actions can be achieved, what distinguishes this proposal from others.

Why: Rationale for the proposal

Explanation for why these actions and outcomes are desirable.

How: Feasibility of proposal

Explanation of how the proposed actions will be achieved. Teams are encouraged, but not required, to include such issues as:

  • Overall global economic and environmental governance framework
  • Mechanisms for financing required investments
  • Role of new energy technologies and technology transfer
  • Political, educational, or media interventions that can facilitate the transition

If more detailed models or spreadsheets are useful in demonstrating your proposal’s feasibility, please send them to rjl@mit.edu, and they will be reviewed and linked to your proposal.
Teams are also encouraged to note regional/national proposals that are complementary to their global proposal.

Vision of the future under this proposal

Creative depictions what life will be like later in the century if the proposal were to be adopted, using such media as videos, images, or narratives.

What

Description of the actions proposed and their anticipated outcomes.
You will want to refer to the emission and land use target you have chosen using the Actions & Impacts tab.
In addition, you will want to outline the mechanisms by which the world as a whole can transition to the green economy or to an alternative vision of the future you would propose instead.

Executive summary

Overview of the proposal: what it hopes to achieve, the proposed actions and anticipated outcomes, mechanisms by which the actions can be achieved, what distinguishes this proposal from others.

Team

Individuals and/or organizations that played a key role in developing this proposal and their respective contributions.

What

Description of the actions proposed and their anticipated outcomes.
You will want to refer to the emission and land use target you have chosen using the Actions & Impacts tab.
In addition, you will want to outline the mechanisms by which the world as a whole can transition to the green economy or to an alternative vision of the future you would propose instead.

 

Why: Rationale for the proposal

Explanation for why these actions and outcomes are desirable.

How: Feasibility of proposal

Explanation of how the proposed actions will be achieved. Teams are encouraged, but not required, to include such issues as:

  • Overall global economic and environmental governance framework
  • Mechanisms for financing required investments
  • Role of new energy technologies and technology transfer
  • Political, educational, or media interventions that can facilitate the transition

If more detailed models or spreadsheets are useful in demonstrating your proposal’s feasibility, please send them to rjl@mit.edu, and they will be reviewed and linked to your proposal.
Teams are also encouraged to note regional/national proposals that are complementary to their global proposal.

Vision of the future under this proposal

Creative depictions what life will be like later in the century if the proposal were to be adopted, using such media as videos, images, or narratives.