Bamboo iceless refrigerator

In rural areas, storage of vegetables, milk, and other perishable food items is a problem, especially in the hot summer months. The bamboo iceless refrigerator is a low-cost device for storing food. It can be made easily by rural women out of commonly available materials. Materials needed: - A cylindrical basket made of bamboo or slender sticks of wood with an open weave - A loose-fitting lid - Jute cloth - Metal or clay tray (circular or square) - Stones or bricks.

Basket

Loose-fitting lid Build the iceless refrigerator large enough to meet your family's requirements. Construction 1 Cover the basket loosely with the jute cloth. Sew the jute cloth around the rim of the basket. The lower end of the cloth must hang loosely around the bottom, exceeding the length of the basket. 2 Arrange four or five bricks or stones in a circle. Place the metal or clay tray on top. 3 Place three to five stones (or bricks broken in half) in a circle inside the tray. 4 Place the jute-covered basket on top of the stones in the tray. basket loose-fitting lid 5 Fill the tray with water. Make sure that the loose ends of the jute cloth dip into the water. Using the iceless refrigerator 6 Place your perishable food in the basket.

Place your perishable food in the basket 7 Cover the basket with the loose-fitting woven lid. Cover the lid with a loose fitting, wet jute cloth.

Cover the basket with the loose-fitting woven lid. Cover the lid with a loose fitting, wet jute cloth. 8 The water will evaporate from the cloth, keeping the contents of the basket cool and fresh. Dampen the jute material-top and sides periodically with clean water.

The water will evaporate from the cloth, keeping the contents of the basket cool and fresh. Dampen the jute material-top and sides periodically with clean water. Source: Consortium of Rural Technology, New Delhi