Last weekend I was looking into some hiking gear when I came across the Biolite CampStove. This little gadget is a pretty revolutionary outdoor cooking accessory. Not only does the Biolite contain a wood-burning cooking fire, but also features a small fan, which accelerates the energy release from the fuel. Reliance on wood is a key feature that promotes sustainability. Most long distance hikers on tend to use portable, gas stoves to do their cooking because they are reliable. However with availability of a stove that efficiently turns firewood into energy, consumer tastes will compensate a little.
In a addition to relying on a more sustainable source of energy than traditional gas stoves, the Biolite CampStove has the ability to transfer heat into electric power. It uses a Thermoelectric Generator to power its external fan, as well as provide 2W of power output at 5V through a USB port. Although this technology is preferable to gas heat which tends to have a greater environmental impact, it still has more of an environmental impact than portable sources of solar electricity.
What do you think? In a hypothetical situation where you had to hike a great distance like the Appalachian trial, would you consider carrying this item? How could the Biolite corporation implement this thermoelectric technology to benefit people in developing nations?
http://www.biolitestove.com
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