Eco-Cooking As Your Climate Mitigation Strategy

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Eco-Cooking As Your Climate Mitigation Strategy May 16, 2010

Global Warming due to Man-Induced Greenhouse Effects

Due to changes and new demands in our way of life, human activities have undesirably resulted in higher rate of release of greenhouse gases, causing global warming. Global warming has manifested in many global incidences of disasters like rising of sea-level causing more frequent and more severe floods, glaciers melting, destruction of ecosystems, forest fires, etc.

If we do not take extra mitigating efforts, the greenhouse gas concentration could be trebled by end of the century, causing a possible temperature rise of 5^oC. The impacts then would possibly be beyond human control, ultimately making our mother Earth unsuitable for dwelling.

The good news is that we know how to win the fight against global warming,
we follow the green path, we go eco-cooking.

In China, India, African countries, many have chosen to use renewable energies for cooking. Electricity can be generated from solar and wind for household usage. Gaining popularity is the use of bio-gas (methane gas) from agricultural waste for cooking, solar dryer for drying foodstuff like onions and chilis. Everybody should be committed.

Solar Energy

S. Africa’s first registered CDM project is a solar installer project. Houses are retrofit with solar heaters to heat water in an effort to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This resident is seen inserting an evacuated tube into the water tank heated by solar energy.
(Photo: Nic Bothma won 1st Place in the CDM 2008 Photo Contest)

Bio-gas for Cooking and Improved Environment

Use of biogas brings health and environmental benefits to rural communities in China. The biogas plants provide clean fuel for cooking and lighting, improve sanitation and hygiene and help prevent further environmental degradation.
(The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy)

There are many ways to eco-cooking besides the choice of types of fuels, which may currently be beyond our control. We can be energy efficient in our choice of kitchen-ware instead.

Copper-base pans to reduce cook time but beware not to char your foodstuff.

Glassware
Glass or ceramic works best in the oven. It not only save cook time, but also retains heat for a long time.

Pressure Cooker
It greatly reduces the cook time as cooking is done at higher pressures.

Microwave Oven
Best for heating or warming up cooked stuff, as it greatly reduces warming time.

Crock Pot
Slow-cooking in a crock pot reduces wastage of energy.

Above the choices of cookware, methods and energies, the golden rule is, never waste energy.
No unnecessary re-heating, over-cooking, over-boiling, excessive wastage of foodstuff. But certain food-base (curry base, fried onions or garlic) may be cooked in bulk, rationed into appropriate portions, refrigerated or kept for future cooking.
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