Ongoing Programs Since 2003

Mexico has been a focus of SHE’s solar cooking promotion efforts since 2003, when it partnered with the Mexican Nature Conservation Fund (Fondo Mexicano Para La Conservación de la Naturaleza) in a pilot project to introduce HotPotsTM in the Sierra Gorda preservation area north of Mexico City. SHE co-founder Louise Meyer makes regular trips to Mexico to oversee projects in several Mexican communities, supported by grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Bank’s Development Marketplace.

The EPA project seeks to analyze the potential for solar cooking devices to reduce exposure to indoor air pollution – specifically smoke caused by cooking indoors over wood-fueled stoves. Project results will be published in 2007.

At present, SHE and FMCN are employing both NGOs (including the Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda) and individual private distributors to bring HotPots to rural and urban consumers. In addition, approximately 3,000 HotPots have been distributed in Mexico to date throughout the country. An environmental affairs agency of the state of Zacatecas recently purchased 500 HotPots for distribution there, and SHE is helping to guide that process. 

SHE is also directing and underwriting a targeted distribution, training and solar cooking utilization study in Nogales, Mexico, being carried out by a team from the University of Arizona led by Dr. Diane Austin, an associate research anthropologist with the University.

Posted: Fall 2006

Background Information

Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking country with over 100 million inhabitants. One-quarter of the population lives in Mexico City, the world’s largest city. Rapid population growth and industrialization in Mexico over the last few decades have put an enormous strain on the environment, economy and on individual health.

Less than 10% of Mexico’s native tropical rainforests remain today. These rainforests are limited to southeastern Mexico and are most threatened by subsistence activities—especially fuel wood collection. Fuel wood supplies 69% of the energy consumption in rural areas, particularly for cooking. As the supply of wood decreases it negatively impacts the lives of the people who depend on it.

For instance, women and girls are responsible for procuring fuel wood and they must travel farther from home as wood becomes more scarce. This task demands many hours and minimizes opportunities to attend school and participate in income-generating activities. In other areas, it is no longer feasible to gather wood. Families in these areas can spend 15% to 37% of their income on wood and/or gas.

In addition to the negative environmental and economic impact of fuel wood dependence, women and children suffer from health problems caused by cooking inside small, enclosed kitchens that often lack windows or other ventilation. Women and children inhale toxic smoke for many hours each day which can lead to pneumonia and respiratory infections, the biggest killers of children under five years of age.

To alleviate stress on the environment and improve the quality of life SHE is working to introduce the HotPot solar cooking oven. SHE received grants from the World Bank’s Development Marketplace for “The HotPot Initiative in Mexico” (2003). SHE later won funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to participate in the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air (2005).