Building Solar Ovens

     For our first two weeks in Nicaragua we worked on several projects at the Grupo Fenix Solar Center.  One of these projects was collaborating with women from the local community, in building two new solar ovens.  We helped them reach a total of 101 ovens that the center has produced. 

Before beginning construction we first learned the physics behind how the solar ovens concentrate heat from the sun to reach a temperature high enough, for instance, to bake cake or roast coffee.  Some of the techniques they use are lining the insides of the ovens with metal printing plates and covering it with two panes of glass to maximize insulation and absorption of the sun’s energy.  The cover of the solar oven is lined with aluminum foil to reflect more light into the oven. 

During the actual construction, we worked through our language barrier with the local women to saw pieces of wood, attach them with silicon to the solar ovens and nail everything in place.  At the end, we painted the outside blue, like the Nicaraguan flag.  During the time we were there we ate many lunches made in the solar ovens, proving to us how useful they can be.  The women use these ovens instead of firewood stoves that put them at risk of developing many diseases caused by the smoke.  We also baked cake and cookies on two separate occasions in the solar ovens.  The local women are continuing to learn and improve the current design of the solar ovens to better meet their cooking needs.  

~Alissa