I want a solar oven. I've been playing with this idea since last summer, but I didn't have time to get into it fully. So, now I'm playing with the idea again.
I like the green aspect of it. It does seem silly to pay for the energy to run the AC in the summer, then turn on a heat source in the middle of the house. I like the challenge of learning to do something new. I like the practicality of it, utilizing a resource that's free for the taking. I like the outdoors aspect of it. I often throw something on the gas grill in the warm months while I'm puttering around outside. And I like the Kewl Toy! aspect of it.
So, I'm noodling over building my own, or buying a small sturdy one. This one seems to be the best bang for the buck if I'm buying.
http://www.solarovens.org/buy.html
And this page http://solarcooking.org/plans/ has all kinds of plans for building one. I'm more inclined towards the box cookers, but I think that is more of an aesthetic bias than a practical one. The box cookers look more like ovens! Plus, I was thinking that I could put unglazed floor tiles in the bottom of a box cooker to help hold heat. During the week I wouldn't be home from work in time to use it for much more than warming something up otherwise.
So, anybody played with these much?
I like the green aspect of it. It does seem silly to pay for the energy to run the AC in the summer, then turn on a heat source in the middle of the house. I like the challenge of learning to do something new. I like the practicality of it, utilizing a resource that's free for the taking. I like the outdoors aspect of it. I often throw something on the gas grill in the warm months while I'm puttering around outside. And I like the Kewl Toy! aspect of it.
So, I'm noodling over building my own, or buying a small sturdy one. This one seems to be the best bang for the buck if I'm buying.
http://www.solarovens.org/buy.html
And this page http://solarcooking.org/plans/ has all kinds of plans for building one. I'm more inclined towards the box cookers, but I think that is more of an aesthetic bias than a practical one. The box cookers look more like ovens! Plus, I was thinking that I could put unglazed floor tiles in the bottom of a box cooker to help hold heat. During the week I wouldn't be home from work in time to use it for much more than warming something up otherwise.
So, anybody played with these much?