NICARAGUA SOLAR OVENS PROJECT
Location(s)
Nicaragua
Project Funding Date(s)
June 2010
Total Funds Disbursed
$40,300 (the aggregate for solar water pumping, solar ovens and efficient wood ovens)
Total Beneficiaries
Approximately 3,830 people (the aggregate of the solar water pumping, solar ovens and efficient wood ovens project components)
Project Delivery Partner
Local Partner/Organization
Centro Humboldt
Project Description
In an effort to reduce reliance upon wood and charcoal as the sources of cooking energy, this project introduced solar ovens to communities in northern Nicaragua. The successful adoption and use of this relatively new cooking technology means the people in the communities will not be exposed to smoke fumes from burning wood for cooking. In addition, children will have more time to study and adults will have more time for income generating activities because they do not have to spend so much time collecting wood. Finally, because there will be less firewood used, there will be decreased rates of deforestation and CO2 emissions.
Change for Children designed and developed the project, which has also received funding from CIDA, as part of a large ranging community project that also utilized solar water pumping and efficient wood ovens in the communities.
Positive Impact
The funds provided were used to purchase a large portion of the energy equipment for the first year of the total project, including five solar ovens, 142 efficient wood ovens (‘eco stoves’), one solar water pumping system and two 7.5HP electrical grid power water pumping systems. The average family size in the region is 8 people, so in total, e4e’s funding helped provide improved access to modern energy for approximately 3,830 people.
