As extreme heatwaves become more frequent due to climate change, two Japanese companies have introduced an innovative solution designed to help people cool down quickly. SDRS, a manufacturer of vending machines and refrigerators, and TRUSCO Nakayama Corporation, an industrial equipment supplier, have jointly developed a full-body cooling device known as the “Human Fridge.”
The cooling unit, called Do Hiemon, is approximately 7 feet tall and 3.9 feet wide, resembling a large refrigerator or vending machine. Users step inside the chamber, where the temperature is maintained at 15°C, while 5°C cold air is directed at the head, neck, shoulders, and back to rapidly reduce body temperature.
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According to the developers, spending around 10 minutes inside the unit can help relieve symptoms of heat exhaustion. For safety, the system automatically switches off after 20 minutes to prevent excessive cooling.
TRUSCO claims the Human Fridge is the world’s first device capable of delivering full-body cooling more efficiently than traditional air conditioning. The unit is also designed to be energy-efficient, with an operating cost of approximately 16 yen per hour. However, each machine is priced at around 1.5 million yen, making it a premium solution for workplaces, factories, sports venues, and other environments exposed to extreme heat.
