Sacramento Solar Cooking Company Aims To Reduce Cooking Fire Risks

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Solar Cookers International is headquartered in Sacramento, but they're leaving their mark around the world, specifically in some of the poorest countries.

The non-profit is working to make sure those communities have access to practical cooking and water pasteurization alternatives, especially for those who cook over open fire.

Executive Director Julie Greene says "This is a huge health hazard for people all over the world."

The hope is the movement will educate women and children enough to help break the poverty cycle.

Green spoke about women living in struggling communities, saying "She wakes up every day and wonders, 'Will I be able to feed my family today? Will I be able to cook that food for them?' We forget about that sometimes."

Solar Cookers International works with 133 countries and makes sure that the solar cookers are made locally in their own communities.

"It's all about directing sunlight and turning it into heat," Greene said. "There's a wide variety of devices that can perform this cooking task. You pretty much align it with where the sun will be and in about two hours it will be ready."