Eco Factor: Solar oven made from cardboard.
Developed by Kenya-based entrepreneur, Jon Bohmer, the Kyoto Box Oven, has taken the FT Climate Change Challenge crown after beating 300 other creations, to win about $75,000 in prize money. The oven, which costs about $5 to make, is made from two boxes of cardboard, one inside the other with an acrylic cover, which lets the sun’s rays prepare food for you.
This extremely low-tech oven has black painted interiors with a silver foil on the outer side, which helps concentrate the sun’s rays onto the items being cooked inside. A layer of straw or newspaper between the two boxes provides adequate insulation. The oven is targeted at the three billion people who use firewood to cook in developing countries.
The Dark Side:
The oven is still years away from being mass produced. Moreover, the low-tech approach might have its effect on the overall efficiency of the oven and the food being prepared in it.
