Eco cooler: An eco-friendly air conditioner made of plastic bottles that does not use electricity
The first air conditioning system that does not require electricity has been developed in Bangladesh, one of the world’s poorest countries which is particularly affected by global warming. The Grey Dhaka agency achieved this feat by using used plastic bottles, fill two needs with one deed: a second life for the bottles, and an eco-friendly air conditioner: the Eco-Cooler, accessible to all.
Artisanal and natural air conditioning
The principle is a simple one: the plastic bottles are cut in half and glued to a board or a grille. The latter is then installed in a window frame, with the necks of the bottles facing towards the inside of the house. The system works as follows: the hot air that enters each bottle is compressed around the neck of the bottle, cooling it down before it enters the room. The neck of the bottle acts as a tunnel that compresses the air. This cools the air when it exits the neck of the bottle (rapid expansion) using the same principle. The cooling effect following rapid expansion is known as the Joule-Thomson effect. Depending on the direction of the wind and the pressure exerted, the Eco-Cooler can reduce the temperature by five degrees, which is the same amount as an electric air conditioner.
A benevolent act for the population
In a country in which most of the population lives in rural areas, where access to electricity is limited, the Eco-Cooler appears as a miracle. Over 70% of Bangladeshi people live in houses with corrugated iron roofs, a material that enhances the heat of the sun. In summer, the air can become unbearably stifling, with temperatures reaching up to 45° C. For the time being, the Eco-Cooler is being distributed for free in remote villages in Bangladesh, and various teams are teaching the inhabitants to make their own air conditioners.
And to prove that the aim of the invention is not to make money, Grameen Intel Social Business decided to share its plans which have been made available in open source on the Internet so that everyone can make their own Eco-cooler.
