First, Jeremy and Aaron dug a hole big enough to hold 3 large coolers (about 2'x5'x2'deep). Then, they lined the hole with some 1" extruded foam insulation we had left over from building the greenhouse at our house. The coolers were placed in the hole and more scrap insulation was placed on top. Then a scrap piece of siding was added and topped with 3 straw bales. A makeshift roof appeared using the scrap roofing from our home greenhouse.
Coolers in the hole with the top layers removed.
Top insulation
Bales with scrap roofing on top. A board gets placed over these to keep them in place.
We've been very happy with its performance so far. The ice that was put in around lunch on Tuesday was still partially frozen on Thursday afternoon! We think that with a few improvements, it should be able to keep cold for 3 days at a time before the ice has to be refreshed. When the highs get out of the 100's, it might even last longer than that!
Woo hoo for low tech refrigeration!
Have you changed or improved your frig?
ReplyDeleteHow is it working?
We used it for several weeks in 100 degree weather last summer while we had someone living on the farm. It worked very well to keep things cool for that time. It did attract ants however. We plan a similar device with a box to line it that will be tight enough to keep bugs and water out. When we build it, we'll post it!
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