Solar Household Energy: Solar cooking for economic development and environmental relief

Solar Household Energy (SHE), a 501(c)(3) not-for profit corporation, seeks to harness free enterprise to introduce solar cooking where it can improve quality of life and relieve stress on the environment. Working with private entities, governments, and NGOs, SHE designs and oversees training and distribution projects in Mexico, Central America and Africa.

Currently, more than half of the world’s population relies on biomass (wood, animal dung and crop residue) for cooking, according to the U.N.’s World Health Organization (WHO). ^LINK This practice causes disease, economic hardship, and environmental degradation. Modern solar cooking ovens like SHE’s “HotPot” offer practical, affordable, long-term relief.

Recent Developments:

The United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) contracted with SHE to train 48 women (one of whom is pictured below) in the Gaga refugee camp in Chad to solar cook, and to distribute HotPots solar ovens for them to use. The camp’s 20,000 residents are primarily refugees who fled violence in the nearby Darfur region of western Sudan. The preliminary analysis of project results indicate that introducing solar cooking has caused the women to reduce their wood use by an average of 25-40% after only two months. These savings are likely to grow over time and could be further increased by additional measures. The users are extremely enthusiastic about their new HotPots and have adapted their cooking to use them every midday meal.
Solar-fried Chicken in the Dominican Republic: Solar Household Energy has joined with a new partner, Grupo Jaragua, to distribute solar ovens in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, in order to reduce the use of wood and charcoal for cooking fires that has seriously damaged the forest cover of the island shared by these countries. DR non-profit organization, Grupo Jaragua (GJ), provides solar cooked lunches everyday at its community center in Oviedo, demonstrating how easy and tasty solar cooking can be. GJ’s chief solar chef and trainer, Olga, has even devised a method for a healthier, solar-cooked version the fried chicken dish that is the local favorite. GJ and Solar Household Energy purchase Global Sun Ovens for distribution throughout local communities from an assembly plant in the DR managed by El Fuego del Sol according to Fair Trade standards. For a limited time, a matching grant allows Solar Household Energy contributors to donate a Sun Oven to a DR or Haitian family for only $119. (A full price Sun Oven costs $279). Take advantage of this opportunity now by using the Network for Good button on this page and marking your donation for the DR.
Solar Household Energy’s Darwin Curtis wins prize: Darwin O’Ryan Curtis, a co-founder of SHE Inc., recently was named a “Purpose Prize Fellow,” in conjunction with the annual awarding of the Purpose Prize. That award program, run by Civic Ventures, salutes individuals over the age of 60 who have “made an impact” for the betterment of society in “encore careers.” Details here.

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"Solar Cooking Demonstration" Bamako, Mali, 2005 (top)

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