A simple, and not too expensive, option might be to build an insulated storage space in the corner of your basement. Preferably the corner farthest from the source of heat. Not being load bearing you can go 24" stud spacing. Catching the corner, two sides of the space, increases the coupling of ground temperatures while the insulation decouples the warmth from the basement.

I suspect that a basic stud wall and R-13 insulation will do it and an interior door, I'd go with a 36" model to make loading easier, will be adequate. If you go with an interior door apply suitable weatherstripping and a threshold to seal the opening.

Call it a pantry. It wouldn't need to be a room per se, just a well insulated closet with shelving appropriate to what you intend to keep in it. I'd split it upper and lower so you don't need to open everything when you need something. Coolest on the bottom.

Just how long has it been since you either went to a trench rescue class, or to an actual cave in?

Seriously, if you are going into the tunneling under the driveway business, consult an engineer. I hear failed foundation, driveway collapse, unauthorized modifications, and claim denied.

By the way, I thought you were going to call while in DFW?

1. I know, I know. "Seriously considering" means "until my wife talks some sense into me" - the engineering of my envisioned room is way too much.

2. I was in one long series of meetings in DFW, aside from driving from X to Y to Z. However, if all goes well, I'll be down there a lot more this year and I'll have more time to say hello in person to a number of folks in the area.

DFW - the area, not the airport - is just so incredibly vast, it took us a long time just to get from meeting to meeting.


3. To the other comments - the "corner" model is good BUT the corner I have open is where my electric panels are, so that won't work...but I can get at least the floor and one perpetually cool wall into a "closed pantry" system.

Thanks everyone.

I may be underthinking it, but if you have a good cooler and leave it sealed, I wonder at what temp it would stabilize.

I like the pantry idea in the corner. Build it so the top can be used as a shelf for the electrician. I am supposing the depth to store a case of MREs is not that large. Just thinking....

My $.02

Having had a few MRE's, I decided to choose not to buy or store any. Problem solved!

I'll bet some mushrooms would improve their taste considerably....

MRE's are Generally,Horrible for Flavor,Stateside! Get Yourself Deployed,& eat some of the roadside rubbish that taste's like the air Over there,& You will be Quite a Humble MRE eating Junkie!

Actually, MREs are quite decent, even in situations where other alternatives are available. I have had the ones with the cool (actually hot) tiny bottle of Tabasco sauce, a very nice touch. They are definitely an improvement on the earlier C rats. They are a bit on the heavy side, but that is only a factor if you are backpacking. In emergencies, they do very nicely.

The Eleventh General Order in the military is "Complain Incessantly about the Chow, Always!"