Saturday, March 18, 2017

Introducing the Groundfridge

               


                Weltevree's Groundfridge is a prefabricated cellar that when installed, keeps a large amount of cheese, wine, fruit and vegetables cool without a requirement for electricity.

                It's capacity is that of about twenty conventional refrigerators.  The temperature is said to go no higher than 50-53 degrees F, which is 10-12 degrees Celsius.  It consists of a polyester shell which has an accompanying staircase and rail. It has a ventilation system, and when people are out, it is airtight and virtually vermin proof.


              It is possible to have a builder build a similar device for you, although it would likely be more expensive than this particular device.  An LED strip lighting package and a cabinet are options that may be added at extra cost.   Shelving is standard.   Floris Schoonderbeek is the designer and the recipient of the 2015 Danish design award for this device.


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         Information from Weltevree itself:


groundfridge2
The Groundfridge is a buryable, autonomic operating (cooling) cellar. The Groundfridge uses the insulating capacity of the soil and the cooling effect of the underground water. This allows the temperature within the Groundfridge to remain a steady 10 – 12 °C ( 50-53 ºF) throughout the entire year – the perfect temperature to store, for example, fruits, vegetables, wine and cheese.


wine on shelves IIHIH 

No electricity bill
Keeping your food stored chilly without using a refrigerator and thus without using energy? Not only is this possible, it is in fact based on an age-old principle. The Groundfridge has as much storage capacity as 20 refrigerators.


groundfridge fruits and veggies on shelves IIHIH 

How does it work?
The Groundfridge is transported and delivered to you, dug in and covered up with the soil taken from its new lodging place. This covering layer of soil is about 1 meter thick and has ample insulating properties for  a steady core temperature within the Groundfridge as the underground water provides additional cooling. Added benefit: installing the Groundfridge requires no permits, and when digging it in, no soil need be carried off of the premises.


groundfridge mound IIHIH 


20 refrigerator capacity, zero electricity
The Groundfridge has a storage capacity of 3,000 liters. This equals the contents of 20 refrigerators and will store 1,102 lbs (or  500 kg) of food (the harvest of a 250 m2 vegetable garden). That’s enough to prepare 350 meals – enough to feed a family of 5.


groundfridge underground cross section IIHIH


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Information between the two sets of undulating lines is the sole work product of Welvetree.




This device will be available all over the world including South Africa and Russia.

https://www.weltevree.nl


In the United States:

https://www.weltevree.nl/blog/Groundfridge-project-in-development/




Friday, March 3, 2017

Introducing Copper Infused Cloth Products

          




        People who are interested in preparedness and survivalism are always interested in strategies for avoiding hazards in harsh or difficult circumstances. Most of us are aware of the antimicrobial properties of silver, but few of us have known about the antimicrobial potential of copper infused cloth.  In fact, the Israeli military already uses socks of this type of fabric.

                 Recently, the Sentara Hospital chain in the United States, in an attempt to reduce the number of hospital acquired infections, and particularly MRSA, began using copper infused sheets, towels and hospital gowns. As you may be aware, hospitalized patients who are often vulnerable to infection, may acquire infections within hospital walls. Additionally, the infectious organisms present in hospitals, despite diligent cleaning, are often what the lay public calls "superbugs", infectious agents that are resistant to conventional antibiotic treatment. Therefore the use of copper in cloth could be a great adjunct in containing or reducing nosocomial or hospital acquired infections.

                   Cupron, the company that makes these copper infused fabrics was founded in Israel. It is now based in Richmond, Virginia.  They also sell a copper infused sock intended for diabetics, but that may also be useful to those with vascular issues of the feet, as they too are particularly vulnerable to foot infection. Cupron also makes copper infused solid surfaces for hospital and health care purposes.

                   These products also have applications in many other industries. Imagine how much safer gymnasiums could be if the towels used there, were made of Cupron materials.  Shoes, plastics and cosmetics could also be made in this way.

                 I am particularly happy to bring news of this to the preparedness and survival communities.  I hope to see more of these products soon.








About Cupron

 http://www.cupron.com/

Cupron's Manufacturing process