Oven Model

The oven was developed in Central America specifically for Central American families who continue to improve upon the design using their knowledge, experience and changing availability of materials. The original model consists of a wooden box surrounded by insulation and set inside another box. Sunlight passes through two panes of glass which rest on top of the box and heats the box to an average temperature of 150º C (300° F) with good sun. A reflector made of aluminum foil and plywood direct light and heat into the box and heat up the black metal plate on which the pots rest. . Today the plywood available is of very poor quality and we are making more ovens with thin sheet metal as the outer box.

The materials can be obtained locally and can be purchased for approximately $100-$150 per oven including stand, food preparation drawer, wheels and thermometer. Although the total cost to build an oven including instructors, transportation, and follow-up we can be estimated at about $300 per family. We are not buying ovens but providing the opportunity for a woman to build one and cook for her family with free sunshine.