8-Year-Old Girl From Mexico Wins Nuclear Sciences Prize For Her Invention

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The post 8-Year-Old Girl From Mexico Wins Nuclear Sciences Prize For Her Invention appeared first on Healthy Holistic Living.

Xóchitl Guadalupe Cruz of Chiapas, Mexico has been recognized by UNAM’s Institute of Nuclear Sciences for her invention. The eight-year-old constructed a solar-powered device to heat water using recycled materials. Since resources are scarce in Chiapas, area residents often resort to felling trees to heat their water, but Xóchitl wanted a better solution for low-income families. Competing in science fairs since the age of four, the third-grader used refuse like empty bottles, wood, and plastic to build the water heater. Other options on the market are often out of financial reach of those in poorer areas. Having a low-cost option like this could be life-changing. Xóchitl’s prototype has been installed on the roof of her family’s home and they have been using it to heat water for the household. Her invention has the potential to improve the lives of people around the world. (1)

Expense Of Solar Water Heaters

While solar water heaters are not a new invention, the cost efficiency of Xóchitl’s design is what sets her apart. Even for more affluent parts of the world, the cost of installing a solar water heater can be prohibitive. American households often utilize social benefits like government rebates to offset the upfront cost of switching to solar. In developing areas, heating water for cooking and sanitation is one of the most expensive and time-consuming activities of the household. In areas like Bangladesh, the collection of wood for water heating is one of the greatest contributors to deforestation. Low-cost solar alternatives are desperately needed as heating water is extremely energy-intensive. With access to affordable solar water heaters, communities like Chiapas could reduce their dependence on wood and fossil fuels to heat water. (1, 2, 3)

Benefits of Solar Water Heaters

While they can be expensive, there are a number of benefits to using a solar-powered water heater. The maintenance of solar water heaters is generally very low and they can last for many years. Solar water heaters save users money to the tune of 50% or more off of their water heating bill. This means a solar water heater can pay for itself over time. They also save significantly on carbon emissions to the amount of 220kg of carbon dioxide per year or more. The fuel – the sun – used by solar water heaters is free and entirely sustainable and renewable. Solar water heater use reduces the likelihood of users facing a disruption in resource availability due to power outages or gas line issues. (4, 5)

If solar water heaters can be effectively and reliably produced from recycled materials in developing areas, they could have further benefits of helping reducing waste and pollution. Developing countries often have some of the greatest struggles with access to recycling facilities and curbing land and water pollution as a result of poor waste management. Creating valuable products from unwanted and otherwise unusable resources could provide a remedy, at least in part, for those issues. And if Xóchitl is winning prizes from the Institute of Nuclear Sciences now, the future looks very bright for her. (6)

The post 8-Year-Old Girl From Mexico Wins Nuclear Sciences Prize For Her Invention appeared first on Healthy Holistic Living.

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