Justin Pittman, the industrial design graduating student at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette has designed a green vending machine dubbed smartVND. The machine uses the convective cooling method that employs prevailing winds and natural, gravity-induced convection to ventilate the dispenser. Natural Styrofoam insulation or clay coated straw act as vapor barriers as they allow fresh air and moisture seep through it.
The cool air comes in through the lower vents to pass through a water/freon reservoir that regulates the temperature. While the cold air cools the contents, the warm air oozes through an outlet on the top. Other green features take account of laminated woods with simalfa water adhesive, and the solar cells. Moreover, there is the P.I.X. (Performance Information Index) option available that provides key information such as, weather, time, energy consumption/capture, and other data to the user.
Via: igreenspot/Coroflot