Jim Archer recognized the environmental problem of rubbish
Through the 1990’s, the conceptualization of the Community Cooker was developed into a simple rubbish incinerator that would produce heat for cooking and boiling water.
First Community Cooker prototype completed
With initial seed capital of US $10,000 through UNEP and coupled with funding from other institutions, the first prototype model of the Community Cooker was constructed in 2008 in one of Africa’s largest informal settlements, Kibra.
World Architecture Festival
The Community Cooker received Second Place in the world in the Energy, Waste and Recycling category.
The Community Cooker Foundation is established
In November 2010 the Community Cooker Foundation was established to promote sustainable waste management by encouraging institutions and communities to incinerate their rubbish in Community Cookers, thus cleaning up the environment, saving trees, improving health, and creating employment and value from rubbish.
Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt Museum of Socially Responsible Design
The Community Cooker was showcased at the United Nations Headquarters from October 15, 2011 until January 9, 2012 as part of the Smithsonian’s Design with the Other 90%: CITIES exhibition. The exhibition is on tour of the United States.
Entry of the Mark II Community Cooker
The Mark II prototype of the Community Cooker, wth improved insulation, was built near Naivasha at Karagita in September 2011.
World Design Impact Prize
The Community Cooker was awarded the inaugural World Design Impact Prize.
FT/Citi Ingenuity Awards: Urban Ideas in Action
The Community Cooker was awarded Urban Ingenuity Ideas in Action prizes:
- For Energy (the Metropolitan Government of Tokyo was runner up)
- The Overall Global Leader (the Metropolitan Government of Tokyo, and JC Decaux - Vėlib, Paris were runners-up).
Entry of the Mark III model
The Mark III prototype, which further reduced the loss of heat through its cooking plates and brick walls, is built at PLANNING House, Nairobi, in December 2012
Entry of the Mark IV model
Working with the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) the Mark IV prototype is designed with new materials for retaining the heat, and is constructed at Childrens Garden Home, Kawangware in Nairobi.
Entry of the Mark V model
In conjunction with The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community (PFBC), the Foundation develops and builds the current model of the Community Cooker, Mark V, at PLANNING House. It is used primarily for research and development.
Community Cooker passed SGS emission tests and reached EU standards for solid waste management
The Community Cooker incinerator at PLANNING House passed emission tests for O2, CO, CO2, SO2, NOx and combustion efficiency. The Mark V achieved over 880℃ in the combustion chamber and reached over 90% combustion efficiency.
First Community Cooker built in a secondary school setting
First Community Cooker built in a Tourist Conservancy
First Community Cooker built at a Teachers’ Training College
First Community Cooker built with the primary purpose to pipe large, continuous quantities of hot water for sterilization and hygienic cleaning of equipment
First Community Cooker built in a health facility to incinerate medical waste
First Community Cooker built with the primary purpose of being a micro-Solid Waste Management Centre
