At the mention of alternative energy everyone in the conversation immediately says it is a great thing. We want that clean energy because we want to save the planet. But what about alternative alternative energy?
When the average American is discussing alternative energy what is mostly being talked about is solar panels to collect electricity, solar water heaters and wind turbines. But are there more alternatives to these alternatives?
The first ones that come to mind and that I personally have experience with are solar ovens, solar cookers and solar dryers all of which are related to food. Now in the American world of electricity and easily available gas not to mention microwave ovens the idea of using anything solar to prepare your food seems ridiculous.
Just to help out the reader I would like to define for you what these contraptions look like and what function they perform.
Solar Cooker- These are used for what you would use your stove top for. You place your pot of whatever you need to cook in the middle of the device and wait for quite a bit longer than a stove would take. But with enough forethought these can work excellently.
(please note this is a generic image as there are many types and variations)
Solar Oven- These are extremely similar to the solar cookers. But the difference is they perform the function that a oven would. Generally the reflectors point the sun into a enclosed space that has a glass plate over top of the space. What is trying to be cooked is behind the glass plate. What ends up happening is a amplified version of what happens to your car in the summer, the interior gets really hot. These are commonly built in high school science classes to bake some cookies.
Solar Dryer- These are used to dry out food so it can be preserved. These are extremely similar to the solar ovens in design but the time frame is much greater. These actual vary in use and design much more than the cooker or oven. But essentially the result is the same to dry out fruit and vegetables by using free energy from the sun.
Please note this is a generic image and the design and use of solar dryers can vary immensely.
All of these devices are becoming more common to be used in rural Mexico where all forms of cooking are being done by burning wood. Which creates smoke and work for the people collecting the wood.
The idea of taking more time to prepare a meal in the microwave meal infested America seems a hard concept to grasp but in places where one might spend a few hours walking to where any wood remains and then carrying or carting it back to then be able to start cooking is it a practical solution.
Again solar cookers, ovens and dryers are not about being “green” for most of the users in Mexico and around the US border with Mexico is it about necessity, just like we found with the solar power.
Please note this is a generic image, solar ovens can vary greatly in design and function.
