1. USE OF SOLAR COOKER BY HOME MAKERS MAMATHA B ASSISTANT PROFESSOR SMT VHD CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF HOME SCIENCE BENGALURU

2. INTRODUCTION • Energy is one of the most vital elements for the existence of all living beings on • the earth. • The increasing demand for energy, gradual rise in oil prices, depletion of fossil • fuels, unchecked deforestation and exponential population growth have • aggravated the cooking energy problem. • In this crucial situation, solar energy which is pollution free, cost free and • available in abundance during most days of the year, offers a practical solution • to the household energy problems. • Solar cooker that works on solar energy is a great boon to both rural and urban • households. It is a simple, safe and convenient way to cook food by consuming • cost free fuel. • According to some of the oldest scriptures of India, Rigveda and Brahma • Grantha, Solar cooked food was called “Amritha” and the cooking appliance • was known an “Akshayapatra”.

3. BOX TYPE SOLAR COOKER PARABOLIC TYPE SOLAR COOKER

4. HEAT ACCUMULATING SOLAR COOKER STEAM SOLAR COOKER

5. OBJECTIVES • To find out the use of different types of solar cooker. • 2. To know the advantages and constraints of home • makers regarding the use of solar cooker.

6. METHODOLOGY Method Survey Tool Questionnaire Sample N = 50 Pilot Study Main study Analysis Main

7. MAJOR FINDINGS • Age range: 35 – 45 years • Education: Graduates • Type of family: Nuclear Type • Family size: 1 to 4 members • Major fuel used for cooking : LPG • Secondary fuel : Solar energy • Types of solar cooker used by the respondents • Higher percentage (98%) of the respondents possessed Box type solar cooker followed • by the solar oven. • Among 98 percent of the respondents, 84 percent possessed box type solar cooker with • single reflector followed by double reflectors. • About 58 percent of the respondents purchased solar cooker in the price range of • Rs2001 and above. • Majority of the home makers (44%) purchased solar cooker in the last 5 to 10 years. • Most of the home makers preferred box type solar cooker over the other three types • because these cookers are durable, easy to handle, easy to clean and portable.

8. Table-1: Factors considered while purchasing solar cooker

10. Response on the operation of the solar cooker • All the respondents felt that their solar cookers were • convenient to operate and the sizes of their cookers were • adequate for their family. • About 90 percent of the respondents tracked the mirror of • their solar cookers according to the direction of the sun, but • a few (6%) of the home makers did not change the direction • of the mirror. • A majority of the respondents (90%) felt that the size of the • vessel/containers were adequate to cook food for their family. • Most of the respondents (62%) used aluminum vessels and • 38% used stainless steel vessels.

11. Table – 2: Preference on type of vessel N = 50 Sources: Field Survey

12. Response on the frequency of use of solar cooker • A higher percentage of the home makers (79%) used solar cooker more • frequently during summer and winter, when the intensity of the sun is • high. • Most of the respondents (56%) stated that they cooked two dishes at a • time followed by 26 percent who cooked one dish, 11 percent three dishes • and 7 percent cooked four dishes at a time. • Cent percent of the home makers adopted the practice of pre – heating • their solar cooker, cutting vegetables to the desired size and soaking of • pulses (74%) and soaking of cereals (24%) as a prior preparation before • cooking in a solar cooker. • All the respondents followed the boiling method to cook food in their • solar cooker followed by 64 percent who used it for baking, 38 percent • for roasting and a few (10%) for steaming.

13. Table – 3: Preparation of different dishes in solar cooker

15. Table- 4: Response on the Advantages of solar cooker

16. Table – 5: Constraints of home makers in using solar cooker N = 50

17. CONCLUSION • The major problem faced by the respondents while using solar cooker was its heavy • weight, food could not be cooked whenever they wanted and that it took more time to • cook food and food did not get cooked if the intensity of the sun was low. • Respondents were satisfied with the advantages of solar cooker offered as a method • of cooking. • To combat this major drawback, there are solar cookers like the concentrating type, • heat accumulating and steam cookers which are available in the market but the cost • is higher when compared with that of the box type solar cooker. • Solar cooker must be made available at a subsidized rate laying more stress on its • advantages rather than disadvantages. • Using solar energy for cooking at least one meal a day can save a lot of fuel, money • and reduce environmental pollution. • When we review today’s situation there is a lot of stress on alternative energy sources • as it helps in combating the energy crisis and global warming to save our mother • earth.

18. THANK YOU