A Sustainable Cooling System Made with Wet Terracotta Cones
Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: May 23, 2022|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Physics, Engineering
Authors: The Kid Should See This, UN Environment Programme
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video, brief article, and time-lapse video investigates an idea to cool the air that is cheap, simple, and better for the environment than traditional air conditioners.
- The architect, Monish Siripurapu, describes his invention that uses porous terracotta pots and water to cool the air, similar to evaporative cooling systems.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video highlights a real-world example of an architect and engineer solving problems and positively impacting his own community.
- The video is a great example of innovations happening in India, while also bringing attention to challenges with sustainable development.
- The video and the article use simple enough descriptions to be appropriate for many ages.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the terms biomimicry and evaporation.
Differentiation
- Science classes can use this resource to highlight natural, low-tech solutions to problems and could extend the lesson by watching the linked video about animals that have engineered air conditioning using their environment.
- Physics classes could investigate this phenomenon in more depth by performing an experiment using terra-cotta planters to understand why they are an effective cooling device.
- Social studies classes could use this video to discuss the need for affordable alternatives to traditional air conditioners, which use gases that are extremely powerful greenhouse gases.
- Similar resources include this video about using heat pumps as a cooling device and this video about an initiative in New York City to reduce the urban heat island effect.
This 2-minute video from the United Nations Environmental Program showcases how an Indian architect is using modern tools and historical technology to produce zero-waste air conditioning. In the years since this video has published, this company has made even more progress. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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