This Non-Electric Air Conditioner Is Made From Plastic Bottles

Global warming is a serious problem, and it’s getting worse every day. While a lot of us are doing our best to fight it, temperatures are still at record highs. For some of us, that just means turning up our air conditioning a degree or two… but what if you don’t have the luxury of A.C.? Given that people who live in some of the hottest places on earth don’t even have electricity, these steadily rising temperatures are becoming a serious health hazard.

Science has an answer for us, though. Because with a sheet of strong cardboard, and some recycled bottles, it’s possible to create a non-electric air conditioner that can lower temperatures by as much as ten degrees. That does more than make a place livable; it can save lives.

How Does It Work?

It’s pretty simple, according to Cleverly. The way it works is that you punch holes in a sheet of strong cardboard, cut the bottoms off of 2-liter bottles, and punch wide holes in the screw-on tops. The neck of the bottle is worked through the hole, and the top screwed on to anchor it in place. The sheet is then secured to a door or window.

What happens is that when air flow moves over the bottles, it gets compressed. This compression cools the air flowing out of the narrow end of the bottle, and through the topless top. The result is that basic physics and a light breeze create a much more comfortable place to live, allowing people to remain inside and functioning even on days when the mercury is climbing.