Solar Ovens

A solar oven, also sometimes known as a solar cooker, is a device that harnesses the sunlight as a source of energy to produce heat for cooking foodstuffs. Solar ovens have the advantage of requiring no fuel, thus removing any ongoing costs associated with cooking; furthermore, they present a lower fire risk than traditional open fires.

In the developing world, wood is a common fuel used to cook foodstuffs. The collection of wood and unsustainable forestry practices driven by the necessity of living with scarce resources leads to deforestation. This in turn has a number of environmental impacts—including the loss of forests as a “carbon sink” and the desertification of land previously occupied by trees.