It’s a $5 cooker that uses two cardboard boxes – one inside another – and an acrylic cover to trap the sun’s power for boiling and cooking.  The design is simple enough that it can be produced in existing cardboard factories in Africa.  In fact, a Nairobi, Kenya factory has been set up to manufacture 2.5 million boxes a month.

Kyoto Box would allow villagers to cook without firewood and fossil fuel, which would lead to a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.  Another added benefit… reduced indoor smoke inhalation – a major health threat in much of the developing world.

In winning the challenge, Kyoto Energy, which makes the Kyoto Box, will receive $75,000.

Links:
Solar-powered cardboard cooker (Financial Times)

Solar cookers are used to cook cleanly and inexpensively when the sun is shining. Fuel efficient stoves (“rocket stoves”) are made out of organic materials and use only a few pieces of wood to cook when the sun isn’t shining. Haybaskets are insulated woven baskets used to retain heat and finish cooking a meal when the sun goes away or to conserve firewood.

I did a school science project on solar cooking last year and learned how it can help women in developing countries who have to spend long hours collecting firewood and don’t have time to work or get an education.

After I finished my project I met a priest from Uganda who lives here in Ohio; he told me about life in his village and I told him how solar cookers could help. I started this project to help the people in Obia-Zeu have an alternative to walking long distances, to cutting down all their trees and to cooking over smoky fires.

Me, on day 4 of the solar cooking workshop in Uganda. For more photos see: www.imageevent.com/uganda. You can lalso ink to my wiki site.