‘Desi AC’: Jhansi school student built budget air conditioner for ₹1,800, can drop room temperature by 5°C
Jhansi: Class 12 student Kalyani Srivastava once built an air conditioner for just ₹1,800 which could reportedly cool down a room by 4-5°C in an hour. Her invention reportedly made it to a national-level competition linked with IIT Delhi.
As winter approaches in India, the demand for air conditioners is anticipated to decline. Recently, air conditioner prices surged by 5% to 8%, driven by elevated raw material costs, currency fluctuations, shipping disruptions, and stricter regulations. In 2017, a 16-year-old student named Kalyani Shrivastava from Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, constructed an affordable air conditioner for merely ₹1,800.
Among the inventors at Lokamanya Tilak Inter College, Kalyani aimed to address the challenges faced by families in Bundelkhand, where scorching summers are persistent and affordable cooling options are scarce. Instead of replicating a conventional AC, the student sought to develop a low-cost solution, which she successfully achieved.
The 'Desi AC' comprised a thermocol icebox, a 12-volt DC fan, and a cooling chamber, which circulated air through a specially designed outlet, resulting in a temperature drop of 4-5°C within an hour. Utilizing solar power, the device ran without electricity, making it an eco-friendly alternative. Its straightforward design and low cost garnered attention, securing praise from Harsh Goenka, chairman of RPG Enterprises.
Kalyani's invention was recognized in a national-level model competition at IIT Delhi. The 'Desi AC' remains a remarkable example of innovation and resourcefulness, inspiring others in the field.
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