Change the world with ... 5 USD

Governments in many countries have spent billions of dollars to save recession-stricken economies. However, it is possible to change the world better with only 5 - 50 USD. That is the goal of the creative competition called the FT Climate Change Challenge (Calling for climate change).

This special contest is jointly organized by The Financial Times and charity Forum for the Future. Participants must come up with projects, feasible inventions that help the environment change in a better way. Contest sponsor (Hewlett-Packard) awards 75,000 USD for the realization of the first prize project.

Nearly 300 projects participated in the competition. The 8-member jury consists of prestigious scientists who grade projects on two criteria: environment and economic savings. Over 3 stages, finally there are 5 projects in the final round. Thanh Nien introduced 2 of the 5 most interesting projects.

Magical cover

According to Fleck, if all trucks in the US use Deflecktor cover, it will save $ 1.74 billion / year - Photo: deflecktor.com

This project author - Jon Fleck, thinks that tires contribute to at least 2% of fuel consumption. Because the resistance caused by the wind arises when the wheel turns, the movement of the vehicle slows down. Fleck said that if the wheel is covered, it will overcome this disadvantage. The first cover (3.5 kg) Fleck was designed 20 years ago, but it was not widely used since it was heavy, so it also took fuel. So far this cover is only 800 grams because it is made of specialized paper and costs about 50 USD.

Sun kitchen with paper box

Kyoto Box kitchen structure is extremely simple - Photo: deflecktor.com

This is the first winning project. The Norwegian inventor Jon Bohmer, after receiving $ 75,000 in prize money, opened a factory in Nairobi, Kenya, to produce solar cookers called Kyoto Box. It is expected that there will be 2.5 million such kilns a month.

Kyoto Box has an extremely simple structure: the upper four sides of the carton box are covered with foil, or thin aluminum foil to absorb the heat from the sun's rays. Inside the box is black paint used to hold heat. The inner spaces of the box can insert heat-retaining materials such as straw, old straw or newspaper. The bottom of the box has aluminum plate (stove). Put the soup to cook soup, or kettle on the stove, then close the 4 sides above, bring it out in the sun and start cooking and cooking.

According to Jon Bohmer, in 2 hours, a Kyoto Box can boil 10 liters of water. This is very important for the people of Africa, where millions of people die due to lack of clean water. Kyoto Box is the most effective way to help poor African people escape from unjust death. It is worth mentioning that each Kyoto Box is only 5 USD, the price that anyone can buy. Using it, people do not need firewood and, according to experts, each family uses this stove for a year can help reduce 2 tons of toxic emissions to the air.