Everything Solar Forum

I've know that in Germany that solar oven panels on apartment porches that just plug into the wall have been growing by leaps and bounds. I recently found out that Utah passed legislation that allows this, first state in the US to do so. I worked on several low income solar initiatives in the past but never could come up with a solution for apartment dwellers. 
it would be interesting if ASES could do a bit of research and produce a paper on this that could be taken to the various state legislators?

The technology exists, you can go to the German equivalent of a Lowe's or Home Depot and pickup inexpensive kits that just plug into a wall outlet. If Utah can do this I would think that other states could also make this available. 

David Power

David Power - Utah leads the way :) In the meantime, there are solar thermal cookers that can be secured to any balcony with an equator-facing sun catchment area. My favorite is a design by Milind Kulkarni, from India, an inventor who responded to friends' laments about not being able to solar cook in their apartment buildings. The Sun Dish fits the bill-- you can hear his story and see some clips of his cooker in action here: Milind Kulkarni: Solar Inventor The Sun Dish can be mounted on a wall outside a window or on a balcony railing.

Also from India, the Sola cooker devised by Chakku Chakravarthy's team at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay can be mounted on a balcony rail or in a window. BK/Chakku Chakravarthy: The Sola Window-Mounted Solar Cooker

Any number of box and deep parabola solar cookers can be used on a balcony or in a window space large enough to capture sunlight. 

So, for you who dwell higher up, all is not lost, you can be cooking right now. Catch up on the latest solar thermal cooking designs on SCI's wiki - Solar Cooker Designs

I've know that in Germany that solar oven panels on apartment porches that just plug into the wall have been growing by leaps and bounds. I recently found out that Utah passed legislation that allows this, first state in the US to do so. I worked on several low income solar initiatives in the past but never could come up with a solution for apartment dwellers. 
it would be interesting if ASES could do a bit of research and produce a paper on this that could be taken to the various state legislators?

The technology exists, you can go to the German equivalent of a Lowe's or Home Depot and pickup inexpensive kits that just plug into a wall outlet. If Utah can do this I would think that other states could also make this available. 

David Power

So auto correct got me again. 
This was to be about porch mounted solar panels, not ovens. I have used solar cookers and even built a few but this post was supposed to refer to the new Utah law that allows apartment dwellers to install some solar panels on their porches and just plug into the wall to help reduce their consumption. 
A large portion of the US population lives in apartments and with the increasing costs for single family dwellings this is likely to increase. With the current increases in consumption and the rising costs for electricity this makes sense but is only allowed in one state so far. 
Hopefully more states will follow. 

David 

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David Power
Retired
Katy TX

Original Message:
Sent: 09-01-2025 09:26 AM
From: Luther Krueger
Subject: Apartment solar porches

David Power - Utah leads the way :) In the meantime, there are solar thermal cookers that can be secured to any balcony with an equator-facing sun catchment area. My favorite is a design by Milind Kulkarni, from India, an inventor who responded to friends' laments about not being able to solar cook in their apartment buildings. The Sun Dish fits the bill-- you can hear his story and see some clips of his cooker in action here: Milind Kulkarni: Solar Inventor The Sun Dish can be mounted on a wall outside a window or on a balcony railing.

Also from India, the Sola cooker devised by Chakku Chakravarthy's team at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay can be mounted on a balcony rail or in a window. BK/Chakku Chakravarthy: The Sola Window-Mounted Solar Cooker

Any number of box and deep parabola solar cookers can be used on a balcony or in a window space large enough to capture sunlight. 

So, for you who dwell higher up, all is not lost, you can be cooking right now. Catch up on the latest solar thermal cooking designs on SCI's wiki - Solar Cooker Designs

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Luther Krueger
Curator Maximo
Museum of Solar Cooking, Minneapolis
Minneapolis MN
[EmailAddress]

Original Message:
Sent: 08-29-2025 09:18 AM
From: David Power
Subject: Apartment solar porches

I've know that in Germany that solar oven panels on apartment porches that just plug into the wall have been growing by leaps and bounds. I recently found out that Utah passed legislation that allows this, first state in the US to do so. I worked on several low income solar initiatives in the past but never could come up with a solution for apartment dwellers. 
it would be interesting if ASES could do a bit of research and produce a paper on this that could be taken to the various state legislators?

The technology exists, you can go to the German equivalent of a Lowe's or Home Depot and pickup inexpensive kits that just plug into a wall outlet. If Utah can do this I would think that other states could also make this available. 

David Power

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David Power
Retired
Katy TX
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