'Green' Refrigerators

All over the world, there are people who are trying to (and in fact have) create 'Green' Refrigerators'. Also, called as Ground Fridge, these devices uses earth to run and cool. The eco-friendly and sustainable efforts increases the chances of replacing conventional fridge for a device that does not use electricity to operate. One such 'Green' Refrigerator has been designed by he Dutch, Floris Schoonderbeek, who inspired the design of the basement making him develop a device that only needs the land to operate. This fridge uses ancient preservation method based on the natural insulation of the earth and the cooling effect of groundwater that keeps vegetables and drinks at 12 ° C throughout the year.

The “Groundfridge” (as named by the inventor) is made from environmentally friendly materials, trying to reduce the carbon footprint in its manufacturing process. It also has a capacity of 3,000 liters and the possibility to accommodate up to 50 kg in food; equivalent to 20 refrigerators. The refrigerator has a spherical shape and measures 2.30 meters in diameter. The interior contains wooden shelves which are ideal for storing vegetables, fruits, wine and cheese.

A more simpler form of 'Green Refrigerator' used in ancient times in India (and even now in villages or in sustainable homes) used to be a big clay pot (matka) which was placed underground with sand as exterior layer. 

Gangadevipally: A 100% Green Village of India

Gangadevipally in Warangal district is a village that has been 100% green village by the Indian Green Buildings Council (IGBC). The council recommended the village as a model for other villages to emulate. Because of this unique and green achievement, the village is all set to receive a platinum rating and a tie up with the tourism department slotted, it might be one of the few to make its way to the world tourism map. The village is just 180 km from the Hyderabad city.

A Green Village, according to the Indian Green Buildings Council, is one which offers access to clean energy, adequate water, basic education, good healthcare, hygienic sanitation, leading to economic prosperity and enhanced quality of life, in a manner that is environmentally sustainable. IGBC Green Village rating is designed to address many of the rural challenges like open defecation, drinking water scarcity, lack of adequate health care, access to basic amenities and power shortage.

Gangadevipally is a small village with only 287 households and 1,352 people but it was zeroed in by search teams that took information and inputs from voluntary organizations and government agencies. It was discovered that green initiatives were running on for years. This village has purified drinking water facility, toilets in every house, garbage segregation at points of collection and even a centralized 50 kw solar power plant that lights up the streets. Each house in the village have LPG stove and individual composting pits. The drainage is via water pipelines.

Gangadevipally village which has got its own public address system and a well-managed website attracts several foreign footfalls, especially NGOs and government agencies from other countries. IGBC had identified a total of 6 `green villages' in India but Gangadevipally is slotted for the highest `platinum' rating.