A French engineer has designed compact shelters that retain heat, intended for use by the homeless during winter. If the onset of winter conjures up images of festivities, holidays, Christmas, gifts, decorations, cookies, and family gatherings, consider yourself fortunate.
Regrettably, for some, winter represents a harsh reality. Numerous individuals lack a secure and warm refuge to shield themselves from the piercing cold.
Consequently, a French engineer has taken action to aid those suffering in the cold on the streets.
Geoffrey De Reynal, who holds an M.Eng in Energy Engineering, invented The Iglou.
These compact, heat-retaining, and portable shelters are designed to shield individuals from the external cold and dangers. Reynal prioritized warmth and heat retention during the design phase of the project.
Upon completion, he distributed the first batch to the homeless in Bordeaux and Paris, cities where temperatures can plummet to dangerously low levels.
The Iglous, albeit small and only able to house two people, are constructed with an exterior of layered polyethylene and an interior of aluminum foil. As synthetic insulators, they maintain the internal temperature of the dome approximately 15% higher (or 60°F greater) than the outside.
The intelligently designed shelters are equipped with a small window to admit light while simultaneously ensuring the occupants' privacy.
To raise the internal temperature, the tent's aluminum foil lining captures heat from solar panels and the occupants. These compact tents are designed to be easily repairable, waterproof, and recyclable, allowing for simple cleaning if they become soiled.
Remarkable!
Reynal self-funded the design of the initial batch and, after producing the first ten Iglous, distributed them on the streets of Bordeaux, France for testing. They proved to be immensely successful, quickly garnering affection from the public.
Reynal established a crowdfunding account for his charity, quickly raising over $20,000 to sustain his efforts.
Océane, a beneficiary living on the streets with her boyfriend, shared that the Igou has been their best shelter in months, making it "much easier to fall asleep at night and to wake up in the morning."
Inquiring about his drive, Reynal elaborated:
“I was living abroad in Montenegro for a year, and there are not many people living outside there. When I came back to France, I was surprised by the number of homeless in the streets, so I decided to come up with an idea to help them.”
He further stated that while his invention provides shelter and warmth to the homeless, it is not a lasting solution, as its proper use is limited to the winter season.
He stated:
“I am not trying to replace emergency accommodations. I am just trying to make life a bit less difficult for homeless people. Having one of these igloos does not mean that you are not homeless anymore.”
Moreover,
“My ambition is to produce these igloos on a large scale, hundreds or even thousands of them. I also want to make some improvements: putting wheels under the igloos to make them easier to transport, or build larger modular igloos for families.”
The goal is to provide these igloos to the homeless in countries with climates as cold as France, including Norway, Poland, Canada, and even cities like Chicago in the U.S.
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