This is the second in a series of guest blog posts by Alissa Emmel about renewable energy projects in Nicaragua.
I decided to start with firewood, since after living with a local family and breathing in those toxic fumes, this issue is near and dear to my heart (and my lungs!).
Roasting coffee the traditional way
In Nicaragua, as in many places, rural families generally cook over open fires inside houses. The use of firewood creates severe respiratory problems, contributes to deforestation, and is costly and time consuming. According to the World Health Organization, indoor air pollution is responsible for the death of 1.6 million people annually. As women are often responsible for cooking, they suffer 59% of all indoor air pollution-attributable deaths. (To the right is a picture of my host mother cooking with an open fire, the traditional way of roasting coffee.)
This is also a very serious issue for children, as children under the age of 5 account for 56% of deaths from indoor air pollution. According to the same WHO report, “Globally, pneumonia and other acute lower respiratory infections represent the single most important cause of death in children under five years.”
Types of fuel used for cooking in Nicaragua – click to enlarge
But there is a very low cost, easy solution – Solar Ovens. Below are pictures of two types of solar ovens: a parabolic solar cooker, and a box-style solar oven which is being used to roast coffee. I like the box solar ovens much better than the parabolic (umbrella-looking) solar cookers, as with the parabolic cookers you need to follow the sun much more closely.
A parabolic solar cooker constructed of aluminum foil and old CDs
Roasting coffee in a box solar oven
The next blog post will describe the benefits (as well as a few of the challenges) of solar ovens.
Other posts in this series:
1. Renewable Energy Projects in Nicaragua
2. The problem: cooking with firewood
3. The solution: solar ovens
4. Re-seeding the Forest
5. Is renewable energy practical?
6. The Solar Women of Totogalpa
7. Making a biosand water filter
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