A cooling system inspired by the structure of a beehive has won a US$10,000 startup grant from the United Nations Environment. The biomimicry based air cooler was designed by Monish Siripurapu, an architect based in New Delhi.
ALSO READ:Twitter co-founder invests in Delhi-based AI Startup
As a winner of the Asia Pacific Low Carbon Lifestyles Challenge in the Energy category, Siripurapu will also receive business and marketing training from global experts, and pitch to win an additional US$10,000 prize to bolster his business.
“We are at a tipping point in the energy sector and the shift to renewables is more important than ever. But we can’t ignore the need to reduce our consumption. New ideas like this air cooling system that uses zero refrigerants and a fraction of the power are showing us the value of ingenuity as we aim to make our lifestyles more sustainable,” said Dechen Tsering, UN Environment’s Director for the Asia-Pacific region.
What problem does the cooling system solve?
The building sector in India consumes about 40 per cent of generated electricity. Use of refrigeration and air conditioning systems is a major part of this energy demand. Not only do these units consume a lot of energy, they also employ powerful greenhouse gases, hydrofluorocarbons, to achieve cooling effects.
ALSO READ: Healthtech start-up Doxper raises $1.1 mn in pre-series round
Siripurapu’s device passes water through earthen cones that facilitate evaporative cooling, using little energy and no refrigerants. The system is inspired by the design of a beehive, but has been customized through advanced computational analysis and modern calibration techniques. A pilot project in Uttar Pradesh recorded a temperature of 36 degrees Celsius around the device, while the external ambient temperature was 50 degrees Celsius. It could also revitalize a fading traditional craft. Workshops are planned for Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and overseas in Abu Dhabi.
Siripurapu said, “Anyone who lives in India knows the heat can be debilitating. We wanted to come up with a cooling system that’s affordable, aesthetically pleasing and functional.”
Monish Siripurapu is the founder principal of Ant Studio based out of New Delhi. He graduated from the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi in 2009.