Five years ago, BYU physics professor Steven E. Jones spent his Christmas vacation developing solar-powered cookers with his family.

Since then, Jones says he has developed an inexpensive and efficient solar funnel cooker capable of benefiting a large percentage of the world's population.

"Right now, we are doing them with third-world countries," Jones said.

Jones and several students recently built 200 of the cookers for an orphanage in Haiti.

Jones said his initial models used cardboard and aluminum foil, but with help from his son, they developed a funnel-shaped model using aluminum coated Mylar.

Earlier this year, Jones said he was contacted by Jack McGlothlin, Orison Marketing, L.L.C., who had heard of Jones' cooker and wanted to donate 12 rolls of aluminum-coated Mylar, valued at around $80,000.

Jones said a deal was sealed: If McGlothlin donated the Mylar, Jones agreed to construct the cookers for a friend in Haiti.

The orphanage receiving the cookers is located in a village near Cap Haitien, and is sponsored by a Texas Church of Christ.

Jones said around half of the world's population cooks food by burning some sort of fuel. Using solar cookers instead of fuel, however, is safer, healthier and more efficient.

"You don't have to tend it, and you don't have to collect wood," Jones said.

Jones' cooker consists of a sheet of aluminum coated Mylar rolled into a funnel and placed in a small plastic bucket.

At the bottom of the bucket is an aluminum reflector, and placed in the center of the funnel is a jar painted black elevated by wire and wrapped in an oven-safe plastic bag.

Jones said the cookers cost around $5 to make and are more efficient than other cookers costing upwards of $200.

Jones said temperatures in the cooker reach 240 degrees Fahrenheit and boils water in about 30 minutes.

The cooker can be used during the winter as long as there is sun.

Jenny Camble, one of Jones' students, said she has been involved in the project this semester. She is working on producing more durable bowl-shaped cookers.

"It's nice to be involved in something that has such a far-reaching effect," Camble said.

Jones said he has tested cookers in Bolivia through the Benson Institute and has sent cookers to Africa, Mexico, Ecuador and Guatemala.



Copyright Brigham Young University 6 Nov 2001