Coolboard

Inspiration

We drew inspiration from two critical issues: global warming, which is a concern for all of us, and the escalating demand for air conditioning due to rising temperatures in Singapore. According to reports, air conditioning contributes to up to 10% of global energy consumption. Our goal is to address these challenges by offering a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional household air conditioning.

What it does

Coolboard is an innovative solution that leverages the power of evaporative cooling to provide a more eco-friendly and affordable way to cool indoor spaces. The concept is simple yet effective: Coolboard consists of specially treated cardboard pieces that are soaked in water to absorb moisture. Users can then hang Coolboard in front of a fan. Through the process of evaporation, Coolboard cools the surrounding air, creating a comfortable indoor environment. Moreover, Coolboard's modular design allows users to easily customize it to fit different fan sizes and configurations.

How we built it

To bring Coolboard to life, we began by cutting cardboard into 15cm x 5cm pieces. Additionally, we 3D printed a square frame to securely hold these cardboard pieces in place. Each square frame is made to be modular to allow users to change its size to fit any fans. This would also reduce the amount of waste produced by the product.

Products

Each product will be sold at $7 and it comes in 4 of such squares inclusive of its cardboard filter. Subsequent filter will be sold at $1 each and users would have the opportunity to make it themselves.

Challenges and Achievements

Throughout the development process, we encountered challenges such as airflow obstruction and insufficient cooling due to the initial orientation of the cardboard. However, through perseverance and iterative design improvements, we successfully created a working prototype within a 24-hour time frame. This achievement demonstrates our team's dedication and problem-solving abilities.

What we learned

While working on Coolboard, we gained valuable insights into the importance of efficient airflow and surface area for effective cooling solutions. These lessons will inform our future projects and innovations.

What's next for Coolboard

In terms of the future of Coolboard, we have several directions to explore. This includes further optimization of the design for enhanced cooling efficiency and including of a pre-built mini device that would allow users to cut the cardboard into 15cm x 5cm pieces easily.

Built With

• cardboard
• pla