London design grad creates biodegradable fridge out of bacterial cellulose
Dubbed Xero Cool, Levy imagines cooling the soft capsule with solar thermal energy, where a rooftop solar collector captures the sun’s heat and uses it to power a cooling cycle.
“Researching refrigeration became a surprisingly radicalizing experience,” Levy told design publication dezeen. “It felt like uncovering this seedy underbelly of civilization connected to so many critical functions of modern society.”
Levy added that the household refrigerator is just one part of a vast global cold chain linking production and consumption. As climate change drives more extreme temperatures, demand for refrigeration continues to rise, creating a cycle in which cooling contributes to further warming.
“I would hope that the world in which this alternative refrigerator was adopted would be a reality in which we have re-evaluated relationships with the kitchen, food and material cultures,” said Levy. “Perhaps spatial constraints would prompt more intentional consumption.”
Category: Chemicals & Materials
