An energy-efficient refrigerator that incorporated ancient technology of zeer refrigerator. The Zeer Refrigerator has 3 compartments, a conventional 11 Cu. Ft. refrigerator, a 5 Cu. Ft. freezer and a 5 Cu. Ft. zeer compartment that uses evaporation to cool food. As the result, the 21 Cu. Ft. Zeer Refrigerator only has the power consumption of a 16 cu. Ft. refrigerator, which is approximately 20% less.

A zeer or pot-in-pot refrigerator is an evaporative cooling refrigeration device that does not require electricity. It uses a porous outer earthenware pot, lined with wet sand, contains an inner pot within which the food is placed - the evaporation of the outer liquid draws heat from the inner pot.

Project Processbook available here. 

Project Duration: 1 Month

Designed in 2014

NSCAD University Project. 

Scrolling Cold Air Buffer

• Energy-saving feature designed to trap cold air while user deciding what to take from the fridge. 
• The buffer is made of transparent plastic.
• Small ventilation holes allow door-mounted compartments to chill.
• Easy to operate: pulling ring with auto-locking mechanism to scroll up, release buffer screen with automatic un-scrolling when door is closed.

A zeer is constructed with a bigger outer pot made of porous earthenware pot and an inner pot that contains food. In between the two pots are lined with wet sand. Water is poured into the sand and will evaporate through the pots, therefore brings down the temperature to around 10 degrees Celsius, and maintains a humidity level of approximately 90% in the inner pot, which is suitable for less perishable vegetables and fruits such like cabbages, tomato and melons. A zeer needs to be refilled roughly weekly, but precise number depends on the rate of evaporation and its specifications.

Zeer Compartment

• Water inlet located at zeer compartment with water level observation.
• If temperature in the zeer compartment is too high for food storage, the zeer temperature display digit will turn red to alert user.
• Warm air from the refrigerator radiator vent is channeled through zeer outer shell to aid zeer accelerate evaporation. 
• Even if zeer compartment is not available, the remaining 16 cu. ft. storage is still sufficient to most household scenarios.