Transference of solar cooking in the province of Catamarca, Argentina.

IRIARTE A.; S. BISTONI; C. RODRÍGUEZ; A. PEREYRA

Lisboa - Portugal

Congreso; 1st International Congress on Heating, Cooling, and Buildings. EUROSUN 2008; 2008

Asociación Portugesa de Energia Solar - Intenacional Solar Energy

In the Province of Catamarca, Argentina, many people have no access to conventional energy sources at reasonable costs. Moreover this province is characterized by a high solar radiation level. The purpose of this work is to analyze the transference of solar cooking devices. The work was developed in two locations with different characteristics: “Los Bajos”, a marginal establishment near the capital city of the Province and Antofagasta de la Sierra Village, in the puna region of Catamarca. For the transference, a cooking set was delivered to both groups. In “Los Bajos” the transference and appropriation process was carried out en two stages. In the first stage, the social conditions were diagnosed, and the new solar cooking technology was made known. The second stage corresponds to technology adoption for productive purposes. Training workshops in Antofagasta de la Sierra Village were carried out in the school with the attendance of all the school staff, the students and their parents. Different foods were cooked. The results obtained show a significant saving in combustible expenses (gas and firewood), which are important for family life. Moreover, the possibilities of micro enterprises allow achieving stable    jobs thus improving life quality.