Solar ovens can be a part of your summer cookout experience's8212;and they's8217;re environmentally responsible too. [See 's8220;Cook with Solar Ovens's8221; at http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/solar-ovens.htm When you think of summer you think of fun in the sun,
and one great way to harness all that inexhaustible, pollution-free power is with a solar oven, especially a solar oven that you's8217;ve built yourself.
For less than the cost of a movie ticket and for about the amount of time it takes to watch a summer rerun, you can put together a solar oven and be ready to keep the heat out of the
kitchen and where it belongs's8212;in your back yard.
Cooking with a solar oven also is an energy-efficient way to help fight global warming and take advantage of nature's8217;s free, inexhaustible energy supply. As the world's8217;s
population increases and nonrenewable sources of energy vanish or seriously damage the ozone layer, the need to adopt clean, renewable sources of power grows ever more critical. Solar
energy is such a source.
The massive contribution to global warming by the United States and other major energy-consuming nations highlights the need for pollution-free alternatives to ozone-depleting technology.
Solar ovens are just one part of the alternative energy picture, but one that is accessible to a great majority of people.
Solar ovens can be used to prepare anything that can be made in a conventional oven or stove's8212;from corn on the cob to spare ribs to kabobs's8212;without heating up the planet or the
kitchen and placing additional demands on your cooling system. Nearly 75 percent of US households prepare at least one hot meal per day; one-third prepare two or more. You can make some
of those meals in a solar oven. Are you ready to let the sun shine in
Here are some ways to acquire and enjoy your own solar oven
--Build a solar oven using ordinary materials's8212;boxes, aluminum foil, black paint, and white paste. Kids home for the summer can turn a few inexpensive, everyday items into a solar
oven they can be proud of, with minimal to no adult supervision. Free plans and detailed instructions (http://www.solarcooking.org/plans.htm) for a broad variety of solar oven designs are available on the Internet.
--All thumbs or short on time Get a ready-made solar oven from a nonprofit organization, such as the Solar Oven Society (http://www.solarovens.org)
or Solar Household Energy, Inc (SHE) (http://www.she-inc.org/hotpot.htm) or from commercial companies.
--Take your solar oven on your next camping or hiking trip and cook without the need for fire or propane and eliminate the threat posed by traditional fires.
For more ideas on how to enjoy your solar oven, see 's8220;Cook with a Solar Oven's8221; at http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/solar-ovens.htm Why depend on fossil fuels when you can harness the
clean, free energy of the sun and help preserve the integrity of the planet. Bon appetit!
Charity Guide is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting flexible volunteerism by inspiring and facilitating acts of kindness. For more information about Charity Guide and
opportunities to make a difference, please visit our website http://www.charityguide.org