Peak Oil: Life After the Oil Crash

Overview of History, Uses, and Features

How long will a Global Sun Oven last?

The estimated life of a Global Sun Oven is 20 + years. With proper care it should last a lifetime.

------

Why does the Global Sun Oven cost more than other solar cookers?

The Global Sun Oven has a number of unique qualities and features that are not in other solar cooking devices. They are often compared with box cookers that are made out of aluminum foil and cardboard or homemade boxes of various sizes and shapes. While the energy conversion principles are the same, the materials utilized in manufacturing a Global Sun Oven have been carefully researched to include the most efficient materials available. The high quality materials required to make a Global Sun Oven make its initial cost slightly higher than other solar cooking devices but its overall (lifetime) cost is actually lower.

NGO's that have worked with Sun Oven have found that they have had an easier time getting people to use them because the ovens work so well and maintain cooking temperatures that are significantly higher than other types of solar devices.

---------

How does my use of the Global Sun Oven address the growing problems of fuel scarcity and high energy costs?

Use of the Global Sun Oven can help you reduce your use of traditional cooking fuels such as natural gas, coal, and biomass. Until recently, the impact of high energy costs was cushioned by large reserves of "free" wood and other biomass fuels. As global energy demands have grown exponentially, however, the availability of these energy sources has diminished while the costs have soared.

In many urban areas, woodfuel may be as expensive as kerosene or gas, while in rural areas the costs of free collection in terms time, energy and wellbeing are excessive.

------

Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R, IL.) on the right,

Paul Munsen, president of Sun Ovens International, on the left

------

How does my use of the Global Sun Oven address the growing problems of deforestation, global warming, and environmental degradation?

The demands of massive population growth and inefficient conversion of wood to charcoal have outstripped the world's forests ability to regenerate. The ecological impact of wood fuel is burdensome and has far reaching effects on the environment, including:

-The decreasing availability of firewood.

-Forests increase the rate that rainwater recharges groundwater as well as

control the rate that water is released in watersheds, helping sustain

reshwater supplies.

-Forests affect the climate. The occurrence and strength of floods and

droughts increase when they are eliminated.

-Forests store large amounts of carbon dioxide that are released when trees

are cut or burned.

Allowing these global trends to continue will lead to to further environmental destabilization. Science strongly supports the fact that deforestation for agricultural and fuel use is changing weather patterns, causing soil erosion, and depleting plant and animal life. The Global Sun Oven offers a powerful solution to the effects of deforestation and can have an enormous positive impact on the everyday life of millions of people in underdeveloped countries by improving their nutrition, health, and quality of life.

-------

A Global Sun Oven at work in Haiti

------

What are some of the Global Sun Oven's Innovative Features?

One piece collapsible reflectors:

The Global Sun Oven can be set up for use or taken down for storage in a matter of seconds. The reflectors literally fall into place at an angle that allows you to maximize the power of the sun.

The reflectors are made of highly polished, mirror-like anodized aluminum that can be cleaned quickly and easily with glass cleaner, and they will never oxidize or rust.

Spill-proof levelator:

There is never any need to worry about your food spilling in a Global Sun Oven. While cooking, your food rests on a shelf that self adjusts to always stay level as you refocus.

Easy temperature monitoring:

A built in thermometer allows you know the temperature at a glance.

Self-contained leveling leg:

As the sun is at different points on the horizon the Global Sun Oven can readily be adjusted to follow it. A simple adjusting leg allows you to choose from 9 angled positions.

Extremely well insulated:

A thick batt of non-toxic insulation retains heat. Food cooked in the sun and left in the oven will remain hot for hours. Cold air is held out allowing the Global Sun Oven to be used on sunny days year around regardless of the ambient temperature.

Light weight, easy to carry:

The Global Sun Oven weighs only 21 pounds (9.5 kg), folds up like a suitcase, and is equipped with a handle for easy transport.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I cook in a Global Sun Oven?

Anything you can cook in a conventional electric or gas oven can be cooked in a Global Sun Oven. You can bake, boil and steam using any of your favorite recipes.

------

What is the cooking temperature range?

The Global Sun Oven will reach temperatures of 360 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The oven will generally reach its maximum temperature as it is being preheated. The temperature will drop when food is placed in the chamber.

-------

Will food prepared in a Global Sun Oven taste the same as food prepared in my conventional oven?

The food tastes much better! Solar cooking allows many of the natural flavors of food, which get baked out in conventional ovens, to remain. The slow, even rise in temperatures in a Global Sun Oven gives the complex carbohydrates time to break down into simple sugars allowing subtle natural flavors to emerge. Sun baked foods stay moist, the natural internal juices do not bake out, resulting in a superior, moist taste and much less shrinkage.

-------

Global Sun Oven at work in Africa

-------

How long does it take?

Cooking times are close to the same as those in a conventional oven. Because the sun is often trying to run away and hide behind clouds, cooking times can vary. At times it may take a little longer. The factors that affect the cooking time are: the quality of the sunlight at the time you are cooking, the types and quantities of the food being cooked, and how often the oven is being refocused.

------

Does a Global Sun Oven require special pots and pans?

No, but dark, thin-walled pots with lids work best. Dark pots change the light from the sun into heat energy. Lids are important because they hold steam in the pot. If a lid is not used the steam will dissipate much of the heat. Shiny aluminum pots and pans cause light to be reflected out thereby reducing the oven's temperature. Glass casserole dishes with lids also work well. For baking cakes, breads, cookies, and pies, dark cookie sheets and baking tins work best.

-------

Global Sun Oven at work in Tanzania

-------

Does food need to be stirred?

No. Stirring to prevent scorching is not required when cooking in a Global Sun Oven due to the fact that there are no hot spots. The temperature of the food rises evenly. It is almost impossible to burn food in a Global Sun Oven

-------

Is the Global Sun Oven easy to focus?

Yes. All that is required is to watch the shadows created by the oven. When the shadows are even on all sides, the cooker is directly focused. The built-in leveling leg on the back of the oven allows for easy tracking.

------

How often must a Global Sun Oven be refocused?

The need to refocus depends a great deal on what you are cooking, the time of day, and the temperature you wish to maintain. A good rule of thumb is to plan to readjust every 30 minutes to maintain maximum heat. At noon the sun is high in the sky and moves quickly past the maximum focus point, creating the need to refocus more often. Later in the day you will not need to refocus as often. The Global Sun Oven is equipped with a built in Levelator, which keeps food level and avoids spills while being refocused.

Many meals can be cooked without refocusing. Global Sun Oven users often will put their ovens outside, focused for the mid-day sun, with their dinner in it when they leave for work in the morning. As the sun moves overhead, the temperature in the Global Sun Oven chamber slowly rises to a cooking level. As the sun passes, the food is kept warm and when they return from work they have a warm, sun-cooked dinner.

(Keep in mind food will not burn in a Global Sun Oven and that the chamber is extremely well insulated, allowing food to stay warm for hours.)

-------

With the Global Sun Oven getting so hot, what is the risk of getting burned when using it?

The only parts that get hot are the oven chamber, the cooking pan, and the glass door. Proper care must be taken to use hot pads when opening the door and removing food. The entire exterior of the oven, including the reflectors, remains safe to touch.

------

Do I need special recipes to cook in a Global Sun Oven?

The Global Sun Oven reaches temperatures comparable to that of conventional ovens, therefore no special recipes are required. A good rule of thumb is to add 10 to 15 minutes of cooking time for each time the oven door is opened.

-------

What are the dimensions of the Global Sun Oven?

The size of the Global Sun Oven is 19'' x 19'' with an average depth of 11''. The total weight is only 21 pounds.

Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert presenting an achievement

award to Paul Munsen, president of Sun Ovens International

------

Can I use a Global Sun Oven in the winter?

Yes. The most important factor in using a Global Sun Oven is the brightness of the day, NOT the outside air temperature. Often, a 40-degree, clear, low-humidity day will allow food to cook faster than a 100-degree day with high humidity. The Global Sun Oven has been used very successfully at the base camp of a Mt. Everest expedition where the temperatures are often well below zero. There are, however, more cooking hours available in the summer than in the winter. In the early summer, it is not unusual to cook from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, whereas during the early winter, effective cooking is limited to 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

-------

How does it work?

The black surfaces on the inside of the oven captures and transforms the sun's energy into a form that cannot escape the oven chamber. When a Global Sun Oven is focused in the sun, the interior of the oven is heated by the sun's energy. Direct and reflected sunlight enters the oven chamber through the glass door. It then turns to heat energy when it is absorbed by the black inner-shell and Levelator. This heat input causes the temperature inside the oven to rise until the heat loss of the oven is equal to the solar heat gain. The light energy absorbed by dark pots and the oven's dark interior is converted into longer wavelength heat energy. Most of this longer-wavelength radiant energy can not pass back out through the glass, ensuring more efficient cooking.

------

If I'm not happy with my Global Sun Oven after purchasing it can I get a refund?

Yes. If, for any reason, you are unhappy with your Sun Oven (or any other item purchased through Savinar Solar), simply return it within 30 days of delivery and you will be given a full and prompt, no questions asked.

-------

Unfortunately, due to skyrocketing material costs and soaring fuel prices for delivery for the 35 pound Global Sun Oven have thinned the margins to the point where I'm no longer able to offer it. It's still available from my fulfillment firm MRW Connected:

The Global Sun Oven - the Ultimate Solar Appliance - at the Mean More Store

You can also find a variety of solar cookers, from very expensive "hybrid" cookers to very affordable folding cardboard ones via Amazon:

Range of solar cookers via Amazon

Best,

Matt

06/24/2008

The Global Sun Oven: The World's Most Widely Used Solar Oven

Cook your meals with the "world's ultimate solar appliance"! Expected lifetime of 20 years or longer.

Price: $199.00

Temporarily unavailable

(Note: this is $60 less than

the price at Real Goods.)

Please Note: The Global Sun Oven is sold and ships separtely from all other items on LATOC. Orders to U.S or Canadian addresses are charged a flat shipping rate of $30.

Item ships from Elburn, Illinois via DHL. Expect delivery within two weeks from the date of purchase. Your credit card will be charged to "Savinar Publishing". -Matt

The LATOC Store

Payments Accepted

______________________

Money Back Guarantee

All orders come with a money back guarantee. Not happy? Let us know.

______________________

Contact Us

Call US: 1.888.884.8355

International: 703.637.6798

______________________

Your Cart

View Cart