there is some pretty interesting information out there about clay pot evaporative cooling vessels, and reversing a Brigham Young University solar cone oven to radiate heat back into space to make ice... after all, space is just a couple of degrees above absolute zero

In a number of scenarios, anyone with ice would have a highly tradeable commodity. Both to obtain goods and services; or to be a very good neighbour in a crisis (e.g., keep meds cool).

Keep in mind that not all refrigerator/freezer technologies require electricity. Long before CFCs, the original refrigerators/freezers used an ammonia cycle. This required only a controllable heat source. This method lives on in propane RV fridges, for example.

if you live someplace where you can freeze water in the winter think about using plastic trash cans,the under sink kind,as big ice cube trays.a backyard shed with saw dust and some modern insulation would make a personal ice house.
i tried this many years ago as a lark.i froze a few blocks and shoveled the chips from my chainsawing firewood over them and a tarp over that.i did it because after the snow had melted out of my woodlot the snow,which had turned to ice,under the chippings had not melted and it struck me i could make and save ice.in a shady spot the blocks lasted a few weeks after the rest of yard was cleared.not much of a block of course,maybe a third was left but with more work i could of had ice until June in Minnesota.with a building maybe all summer.
this ice making talk sounds like the plot to Mosquito Coast!

I remember a high school physics experiment that involved pouring diethyl ether in a spoon partially filled with water. Blow on it, and the ether eavaporates and chills the water to freezing. Just add ether to the FAK, and have ready access to ice for cold therapy, and to a fine general anesthetic for emergency surgery. Dandy little fire starter, useful for starting internal combustion engines, too. Surprising that more folks don't carry it.

Check out Lehmans.com for Ammonia fridges,they're a bit pricey but,You could have Ice Cream/Ice 24/7/365 in Death Valley!

Rich...been meaning to search the RV centers for a used propane (ammonia and water system)refrigerator for a couple of years now... much cheaper than a new system, but really haven't needed one during hurricane season... there are a few remaining "stilt homes" off the mouth of the local river that still have ARKLA (Arkansas and Louisiana Gas Company) full sized refrigerators... most are propane, but some older ones kerosine fueled

Maybe I am overthinking it, but if you can take food and drop it into a box, and that will keep it fresh for 2 weeks instead of 24 hours, that seems to be a survival advantage.

RV fridges, or other absoprtion fridges can be used with almost any heat source, including the sun. Having a labor free way to keep food fresh seems like a major edge.

Having drinks that are cold in the summer, or a cold rag for a child with a fever.


Can you fake it? Sure, wrap a glass in a cloth, soak it with alcohol, and you can get it to make ice, but that is a long nasty process, and your booze is gone......