Can you imagine having a refrigerator that does not consume any electricity to preserve fruits, vegetables and other foods? The truth is that there is an invention that does exactly this, and although it is not designed to replace the classic refrigerators in homes, it is proof that one of the most energy-consuming appliances can also be sustainable. His name is Tony, and he’s kind of modular refrigerator made from clay which works without electricity and allows generating temperatures between 13 and 17 °C.
Tony has been created by inventor and industrial designer Lea Lorenz, and is inspired by traditional clay jug coolers. This refrigerator, in fact, is made of this material due to its porosity and ability to absorb water, although The ceramics are worked with a technique called Raku, which consists of burning clay at a temperature of about 1000 degrees.
The refrigerator also has different compartments, which in turn have a container to store food, and a base that serves as a water tank. It is only necessary to place each part on a shelf and pour cold water into the container for the product to begin to take effect. According to the creator“porous Raku clay absorbs water from the tank and, as it evaporates on the walls of the food container, cools the interior by 13°C to 17°C.”
Not only the refrigerator is sustainable, but also its production
Although the refrigerator saves a considerable amount of energy, since it does not need electricity, not only the device itself is sustainable. So is its production, as well as the extraction of raw materials. Lorenz, in fact, states that none of the processes to create this type of refrigerator release harmful substances into the environment.
Neither the production of Tony, nor the extraction of raw materials, nor the use of the product release harmful substances into the environment. Intensive experiments with various types of clay during preparation have shown that the mixture of raku, clay and sand absorbs water from the water tank best and produces the optimal cooling effect. After production, the clay kettles are fired at the lowest possible temperature, 1000 degrees, to consume minimum energy.
Another curious fact is that the refrigerator Tony is reusable. That is, if one of the compartments breaks or is damaged, they can be recycled by grinding them “into refractory clay and reintegrating them into the clay for the production of new refrigerators.”