THE SOLAR OVEN: DEVELOPMENT AND FIELD-TESTING OF USER-MADE DESIGNS IN INDONESIA

摘要

This paper considers the design, use, and social acceptance of solar cookers that are constructed by their users. Several generations of oven design are described and their field testing in Indonesia, are reported, the first generation design having been described in a previous paper. The second generation design reached 175℃ in oven temperature, and it used only local materials in its manufacture. Results of field testing of sixty four units in East Nusa Tenggara Provence, Timor Island, Sulamu village, and at Maumere City of the Sikka Regency in Flores Island, all in Indonesia, are reported. Social observations via questionnaires and direct conversation were conducted as part of the field study. Preliminary results showed promising tendencies of acceptance (up to 28%), and the solar ovens proved their ability to cook effectively. The most recent generation of design has reached 202℃ in oven temperature, while costing 10% less than the previous one. The dissemination of thirty units of this design in two villages in West Nusa Tenggara Province is reported on.