Monday, March 15, 2010
Solar Cooker - Product Statement
Product:
Our product seeks to incorporate solar cooking into the routine of the home, as well as to save time and energy that would previously be spent cooking with biomass. We have also considered how to best design a solar cooker that will not burn your house down.
By incorporating solar cooking into the home, we aim to leave the daily routine of cooking in tacked . We do not wish to change the way that people cook on a daily basis, but rather complement it. As it is quite cold in the Himalayas, cooking outside with the current solar cookers can be difficult and uncomfortable. However, if a solar cooker is incorporated into the house, it would become quite easy to switch from bio fuel to solar power. Through case studies, we have found that when given the opportunity, people will use solar power as it cuts down on their fuel consumption. This allows the user to save time and money, and frees up biomass to be used as fertilizer rather than fuel.
We know that solar cookers are currently in use, but they are high cost and brake easily. With our solar cooker, we aim to fix this problem. We will design an affordable solar cooker that can be repaired once broken. We are currently developing two types of solar cookers, ones that could be used outside the home and is easily fixed when broken, and ones that would be build directly into the home. The solar cookers would be incorporated into the home through a magnifier in the ceiling, or though a solar box design on the side of the house.
Our product seeks to incorporate solar cooking into the routine of the home, as well as to save time and energy that would previously be spent cooking with biomass. We have also considered how to best design a solar cooker that will not burn your house down.
By incorporating solar cooking into the home, we aim to leave the daily routine of cooking in tacked . We do not wish to change the way that people cook on a daily basis, but rather complement it. As it is quite cold in the Himalayas, cooking outside with the current solar cookers can be difficult and uncomfortable. However, if a solar cooker is incorporated into the house, it would become quite easy to switch from bio fuel to solar power. Through case studies, we have found that when given the opportunity, people will use solar power as it cuts down on their fuel consumption. This allows the user to save time and money, and frees up biomass to be used as fertilizer rather than fuel.
We know that solar cookers are currently in use, but they are high cost and brake easily. With our solar cooker, we aim to fix this problem. We will design an affordable solar cooker that can be repaired once broken. We are currently developing two types of solar cookers, ones that could be used outside the home and is easily fixed when broken, and ones that would be build directly into the home. The solar cookers would be incorporated into the home through a magnifier in the ceiling, or though a solar box design on the side of the house.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Solar Cooker Case Studies
SOLAR COOKER ACCEPTANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA: RESULTS OF A COMPARATIVE FIELD-TEST - Communicated by JENNIY GREGORY
This case study confirms a lot of ideas that we have about solar cooking. It sites the daily usage of solar cookers, along with other fuel sources. "In response to poor access to fuel, users will take advantage of an additional, freely available fuel source, whatever that fuel source may be." Results also indicated acceptance of solar cookers, however solar cookers do not completely eliminate the need for other fuel sources. Also indicated was the monetary savings with in a family, the increased free time for women, and the increased health benefits.
This case study confirms a lot of ideas that we have about solar cooking. It sites the daily usage of solar cookers, along with other fuel sources. "In response to poor access to fuel, users will take advantage of an additional, freely available fuel source, whatever that fuel source may be." Results also indicated acceptance of solar cookers, however solar cookers do not completely eliminate the need for other fuel sources. Also indicated was the monetary savings with in a family, the increased free time for women, and the increased health benefits.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
First Assignment
This is the completion of our first weekend assignment. We were asked to think about different ways to solve the problems that were face by the people living in the Western China as they went about their daily lives. This assignment required little research and was more of an exploration and a way to get to know everyone's working style.
http://de-se2010.blogspot.com/2010/02/assignment-2-due-tuesday-32.html
This first idea with "Pika Power" is a light-hearted way to look energy harvesting. It explores ways to harvest energy without expending extra energy.
The second idea focuses on different ways to store heat that comes from the kong day during the day, and ways to store and insulate that heat for night use.
My third idea deals with heat retention during the night time, as well as raising the "three stone" cooking fire so that heat storing marital can be placed below the cooking platform.
The last slid deals with the idea of wind energy and putting small wind turbines inside of the smoke stack.
http://de-se2010.blogspot.com/2010/02/assignment-2-due-tuesday-32.html
This first idea with "Pika Power" is a light-hearted way to look energy harvesting. It explores ways to harvest energy without expending extra energy.
The second idea focuses on different ways to store heat that comes from the kong day during the day, and ways to store and insulate that heat for night use.
My third idea deals with heat retention during the night time, as well as raising the "three stone" cooking fire so that heat storing marital can be placed below the cooking platform.
The last slid deals with the idea of wind energy and putting small wind turbines inside of the smoke stack.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Reading Responses
The Meaning of .Social Entrepreneurship.
J. Gregory Dees
This article seems like a pretty good over-view of what social entrepreneurship is. I agree with most of the things that were said in the article and was interested by the statement that the ability to sale a produce for more than it costs to make the product is how you determine if something is working or not.
Reshaping Social Entrepreneurship
By Paul C. Light
This article has the same basic theme as the first one, but rather than saying that a social entrepreneur is one person, Light is saying that it is an organization or multiple people. When I thought about social entrepreneurs, I always thought of a group of people working together to get things done. There is no way that anyone can be a social entrepreneur on their own.
Social Entrepreneurship: The Case for a Definition, by Roger L. Martin and Sally Osberg
I think that this article did a good job of breaking down what makes a person into a social entrepreneur. It is apparent for this article that it takes a lot of hard work and commitment to be a entrepreneur, which I think is something that was not clear for the other articles that we read.
J. Gregory Dees
This article seems like a pretty good over-view of what social entrepreneurship is. I agree with most of the things that were said in the article and was interested by the statement that the ability to sale a produce for more than it costs to make the product is how you determine if something is working or not.
Reshaping Social Entrepreneurship
By Paul C. Light
This article has the same basic theme as the first one, but rather than saying that a social entrepreneur is one person, Light is saying that it is an organization or multiple people. When I thought about social entrepreneurs, I always thought of a group of people working together to get things done. There is no way that anyone can be a social entrepreneur on their own.
Social Entrepreneurship: The Case for a Definition, by Roger L. Martin and Sally Osberg
I think that this article did a good job of breaking down what makes a person into a social entrepreneur. It is apparent for this article that it takes a lot of hard work and commitment to be a entrepreneur, which I think is something that was not clear for the other articles that we read.
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