Comments on: Two Cardboard Boxes and Some Paint = a $6 Solar Cooker to Save the World http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/ 80beats is DISCOVER's news aggregator, weaving together the choicest tidbits from the best articles covering the day\'s most compelling topics. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:16:34 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: shinie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-64396 shinie Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:41:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-64396 thank you we do use the suns heat to heat the water etc we live in a hot region and we use the fans a lot during the night can you suggest or gives us an idea how to coll the rooms at night without using the electricity.we spend a lot on electricity/ thank you we do use the suns heat to heat the water etc we live in a hot region and we use the fans a lot during the night can you suggest or gives us an idea how to coll the rooms at night without using the electricity.we spend a lot on electricity/

]]> By: Russell Blevins http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-61901 Russell Blevins Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:26:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-61901 I boil water by telling thousands of lies per minute. How's that? I have a great impact on the environment by reducing the amount of trust in my area. I boil water by telling thousands of lies per minute. How’s that? I have a great impact on the environment by reducing the amount of trust in my area.

]]> By: Jeremy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-41373 Jeremy Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:49:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-41373 I don't get why this gentleman gets credit for inviting this... My kids made these in shop class almost 20 years ago, and baked cookies, bread, pizza, you name it, they made it. Is this a really old story, just brought to light due to the ever increasing environmental crisis? Solor cookers are a great idea, just not a new idea. mass production and distribution in third world countries is a great idea though I don’t get why this gentleman gets credit for inviting this… My kids made these in shop class almost 20 years ago, and baked cookies, bread, pizza, you name it, they made it. Is this a really old story, just brought to light due to the ever increasing environmental crisis? Solor cookers are a great idea, just not a new idea. mass production and distribution in third world countries is a great idea though

]]> By: Chris G. Mankey http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-39883 Chris G. Mankey Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:50:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-39883 Sorry about the other Chris who posted up there (#18) I really wish he was a bit more open minded... Sorry about the other Chris who posted up there (#18) I really wish he was a bit more open minded…

]]> By: solar oven lover http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-31857 solar oven lover Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:42:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-31857 These solar ovens are quite literally life savers in remote regions of the world. Great that you can build one so cheaply These solar ovens are quite literally life savers in remote regions of the world. Great that you can build one so cheaply

]]> By: Ivo Roper http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-30348 Ivo Roper Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:41:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-30348 The real revolution will be when innovators actively include people from target regions to test and refine these inventions *before* mass producing them. Linking the new solution visually and metaphorically to ideas and stories that are culturally comfortable will help bridge gaps of unfamiliarity. Such ideas need to be put through a real trial by fire to validate them. Also, the old ways work reliably! If the new ways fail 5% of the time, they will stop using them because going without a meal for one night is unacceptable. If you can only afford just enough food to live on, then wasting any food is a survival risk AND very damn unpleasant. The real revolution will be when innovators actively include people from target regions to test and refine these inventions *before* mass producing them. Linking the new solution visually and metaphorically to ideas and stories that are culturally comfortable will help bridge gaps of unfamiliarity. Such ideas need to be put through a real trial by fire to validate them.

Also, the old ways work reliably! If the new ways fail 5% of the time, they will stop using them because going without a meal for one night is unacceptable. If you can only afford just enough food to live on, then wasting any food is a survival risk AND very damn unpleasant.

]]> By: Joe http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-27769 Joe Thu, 21 May 2009 08:21:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-27769 Tried solar cookers similar to this. In practice it doesn't work reliably enough and the heating energy is not sufficient to heat a large mass of food or water. In practice we found a parabolic dish of about 1.5 meters or more is needed. Tried solar cookers similar to this. In practice it doesn’t work reliably enough and the heating energy is not sufficient to heat a large mass of food or water. In practice we found a parabolic dish of about 1.5 meters or more is needed.

]]> By: alain http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-26741 alain Tue, 12 May 2009 15:35:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-26741 Zeek wolfe said: "We asked why they no longer used the equipment and they said that they preferred the “old ways.” Yes, Chris Mankey, I’ve been there and done that." Perhaps you've pointed out why honorable efforts of so many angel-hearted westerners ofter failed so miserably on the fields. They disregard "the old ways" thinking, "Oh, I am from a sophisticated country. I am a college educated with PhD in several social fields. I should lecture these people how to do things. Look how the destroy the earth and oppress their women. That won't do. We must make them change with our ways. Even though that would require them to bend over backward to adjust with the limitations we impose on them." Zeek wolfe said:

“We asked why they no longer used the equipment and they said that they preferred the “old ways.” Yes, Chris Mankey, I’ve been there and done that.”

Perhaps you’ve pointed out why honorable efforts of so many angel-hearted westerners ofter failed so miserably on the fields.
They disregard “the old ways” thinking, “Oh, I am from a sophisticated country. I am a college educated with PhD in several social fields. I should lecture these people how to do things. Look how the destroy the earth and oppress their women. That won’t do. We must make them change with our ways. Even though that would require them to bend over backward to adjust with the limitations we impose on them.”

]]> By: Jack http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-26723 Jack Tue, 12 May 2009 05:25:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-26723 Health standard in the US require dishware to be sanitized in, minimally, 175-degree F water, so even this temp achieved by the solar box has purpose to, perhaps, sanitize water if not bring it to a boil. Health standard in the US require dishware to be sanitized in, minimally, 175-degree F water, so even this temp achieved by the solar box has purpose to, perhaps, sanitize water if not bring it to a boil.

]]> By: Gabriel Gadfly http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-26685 Gabriel Gadfly Mon, 11 May 2009 17:39:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-26685 New or not, it's a pretty good idea, and for the most part, this can be made entirely with junk materials -- you don't actually need to buy anything. New or not, it’s a pretty good idea, and for the most part, this can be made entirely with junk materials — you don’t actually need to buy anything.

]]> By: Zeek wolfe http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-24199 Zeek wolfe Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:46:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-24199 I was part of an international aid group assigned to an impoverished west African nation. I personally showed hands on, one-on-one, hundreds if not thousands of the poverty stricken citizens how to operate donated equipment. This equipment would give them a better life. We returned six months later to check the results. The only results were bad. Solar cookers and water purifiers, even pipelines from distant water sources had been abandoned. We asked why they no longer used the equipment and they said that they preferred the "old ways." Yes, Chris Mankey, I've been there and done that. I was part of an international aid group assigned to an impoverished west African nation. I personally showed hands on, one-on-one, hundreds if not thousands of the poverty stricken citizens how to operate donated equipment. This equipment would give them a better life. We returned six months later to check the results. The only results were bad. Solar cookers and water purifiers, even pipelines from distant water sources had been abandoned. We asked why they no longer used the equipment and they said that they preferred the “old ways.” Yes, Chris Mankey, I’ve been there and done that.

]]> By: Chris mankey http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-24132 Chris mankey Sat, 18 Apr 2009 01:46:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-24132 "Six dollars for a cooker? Hey, you could charge six cents but it won’t change a thing. These dopes in the third world don’t even know how to boil water and this technological upgrade is quite beyond them. They would try it once or twice and then use the box for firewood. Tell me how I’m wrong!" Are you a teabagger? What have you EVER done to make the world a better place? “Six dollars for a cooker? Hey, you could charge six cents but it won’t change a thing. These dopes in the third world don’t even know how to boil water and this technological upgrade is quite beyond them. They would try it once or twice and then use the box for firewood. Tell me how I’m wrong!”

Are you a teabagger? What have you EVER done to make the world a better place?

]]> By: Uncle B http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-24033 Uncle B Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:33:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-24033 Folks in India use large reflectors and slots in the walls of homes to ovens for cooking, and have done so for a number of years. Sunny climate folks have few excuses - they must use solar wherever possible. Folks in Northern Canada, where it is too dark and clod most of the year, denpend on wind if they have any, otherwise they burn wood, coal oil, natural gas, anything to keep from freezing - they have but one choice, to move to an environmentally more friendly zone to save the environment! Folks in India use large reflectors and slots in the walls of homes to ovens for cooking, and have done so for a number of years. Sunny climate folks have few excuses – they must use solar wherever possible. Folks in Northern Canada, where it is too dark and clod most of the year, denpend on wind if they have any, otherwise they burn wood, coal oil, natural gas, anything to keep from freezing – they have but one choice, to move to an environmentally more friendly zone to save the environment!

]]> By: Zeek wolfe http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-23759 Zeek wolfe Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:00:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-23759 Six dollars for a cooker? Hey, you could charge six cents but it won't change a thing. These dopes in the third world don't even know how to boil water and this technological upgrade is quite beyond them. They would try it once or twice and then use the box for firewood. Tell me how I'm wrong! Six dollars for a cooker? Hey, you could charge six cents but it won’t change a thing. These dopes in the third world don’t even know how to boil water and this technological upgrade is quite beyond them. They would try it once or twice and then use the box for firewood. Tell me how I’m wrong!

]]> By: Shannon Carr-Shand http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-23715 Shannon Carr-Shand Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:25:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/#comment-23715 Thanks for all the comments regarding the Kyoto Box winning the FT Climate Challenge Competition. There have been a few posts pointing out that the solar-powered oven is not a new idea. The point of the competition was not to reward a eureka moment but to help an innovative approach to climate change reach the market. As Kyoto Energy founder and competition-winner Jon Bøhmer acknowledges in his company literature and on his application, the concept of solar cooking has been around since the eighteenth century. There are other versions of solar cookers available on the web and there are also detailed explanations of how to make a version of a similar device. What distinguishes this approach is that the cooker will be mass-produced cheaply in existing factories, the finished item is to be flat-packed for bulk transportation to end users and is extremely cheap at $6. The $75,000 prize money is going to enable Kyoto Energy to test durable, plastic versions of the cooker with 10,000 people currently burning fossil fuels to clean their water and heat their food. The expert judges and the thousands of members of the public who voted for the Kyoto Box agreed that this simple idea offered the best opportunity amongst the five short-listed ideas for an innovation to help tackle climate change on a big scale. Please see the press release and our site for more information on the competition and its objectives. Shannon Carr-Shand, Forum for the Future Thanks for all the comments regarding the Kyoto Box winning the FT Climate Challenge Competition. There have been a few posts pointing out that the solar-powered oven is not a new idea. The point of the competition was not to reward a eureka moment but to help an innovative approach to climate change reach the market. As Kyoto Energy founder and competition-winner Jon Bøhmer acknowledges in his company literature and on his application, the concept of solar cooking has been around since the eighteenth century.

There are other versions of solar cookers available on the web and there are also detailed explanations of how to make a version of a similar device. What distinguishes this approach is that the cooker will be mass-produced cheaply in existing factories, the finished item is to be flat-packed for bulk transportation to end users and is extremely cheap at $6.

The $75,000 prize money is going to enable Kyoto Energy to test durable, plastic versions of the cooker with 10,000 people currently burning fossil fuels to clean their water and heat their food. The expert judges and the thousands of members of the public who voted for the Kyoto Box agreed that this simple idea offered the best opportunity amongst the five short-listed ideas for an innovation to help tackle climate change on a big scale.

Please see the press release and our site for more information on the competition and its objectives.

Shannon Carr-Shand, Forum for the Future

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