NYT: Kitchen Voyeur: Sunny Side Up (Article on Solar Ovens)

[mcscajun]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/21/magazine/21FOOD.html

http://solarcooking.org/cookit.htm

http://www.solarovens.org/

[slor]

1. Awesome!

I am going to get one to go with my pushy, spinny non-gasoline lawnmower!

[FormerRepublican]

2. I've got a solar oven.

It actually works surprisingly well. I haven't figured out how to bake bread in it, though. Casseroles come out great.

I also have a spin dryer. I kinda like it.

AND I have a Toyota Corolla that gets 35+ miles to the gallon. Eat your hearts out, you SUV owners! :evilgrin:

What I REALLY like is solar power, but I haven't gotten anything like that yet, except for my solar lantern (which is another great energy efficient tool).

[Boomer]

3. Try a spring-powered flashlight or a solar radio!

We picked up a spring-powered flashlight that works by winding it up. And the radio has both spring AND solar-power options.

So batteries to run down and pollute the environment, no cords to jack up our electric use.

Just good old-fashioned muscle power.

[skids]

4. These are kinda nice too, for small gadgets.

http://www.costco.com/Common/Search.aspx?whse=&topnav=&search=solar

...The stuff on the shelf in the warehouse is a tad different:

Path marker lights, $100 for a 14 lamp set, no central panel/wiring, all individual units. NiMH batteries included. Would make good nightlights if placed in a south facing window.

And, the ones I have, two of the 50% more powerful (3 batteries, 3 leds) spotlights ($28 for the set). Thinking of buying the marker lights and taking a few apart to see how complex/rugged/hackable the electronics are and also determining how many suns the little solar cells can take. Upgrading the batteries from 700mAh to 2400mAh camera batteries and concentrating sun might allow a low-powered WLAN repeater to coast for several hours off it, (though voltage would need to be upped.)

Home Depot has some stuff too but they are pricier.

[htuttle]

5. I've had a solar cigarette lighter for years

It's just a small chromed parabolic mirror with a little 'holder' at the focus point. On a reasonably sunny day, it takes about five to ten seconds to light a smoke. I've used it more than once when my regular lighter has run out.

And yes, I should find a healthier reason to use solar power than that...

:eyes:

[skids]

6. Nice!

I'll have to make one! The thought just never occured to me.