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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on WIRED or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Ancient clay-based cooling technologies are providing much-needed relief from extreme heat in India
• These low-energy devices, ranging from clay pots to entire building facades, utilize evaporative cooling to lower temperatures without electricity
🔭 The context: This summer, India experienced one of its worst heatwaves, with temperatures soaring above 52°C in Delhi
• Only about a third of Indian households have refrigerators, and even fewer have air conditioning, highlighting the need for affordable cooling solutions
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Clay cooling devices are eco-friendly, using minimal to no electricity, making them a sustainable alternative to conventional cooling methods
• They help reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with air conditioning
⏭️ What's next: Companies like CoolAnt and Mitticool are scaling up the production of these devices and integrating traditional techniques with modern designs
• The potential for wider adoption of such technologies could significantly mitigate the impacts of future heatwaves
💬 One quote: “We have lost track of traditional systems that have worked for us in the past,” says Monish Siripurapu, founder of CoolAnt
📈 One stat: According to the International Energy Agency, only about 5% of Indian households have air conditioning
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