Aldelano Q&A

Q: When we think about the factors causing world hunger, the problem seems obvious; there must be a food shortage. Can you explain why this is a misleading assumption?

It’s true that simply finding ways to produce more food will not solve the hunger problem. The reason? Experts estimate that 1/3 of the world’s current food supply actually goes to waste. At least 40% of that food loss occurs post-harvest, costing developing nations $310 billion a year. This waste primarily occurs at early stages of the food value chain, often because of limited access to storage and cooling facilities. My travels throughout the world have taken me to nations that are rich in natural resources, yet are poor because they don’t have systems in place to preserve their food from harvest to market. Lack of basic infrastructure such as clean water, ice, refrigeration and power keeps developing nations from becoming powerful. Nations and people throughout the world are poor, hungry, sick and destitute due to their inability to access their own wealth.

Q: Tell us about the Aldelano Solar ColdBox. What makes this product such a unique solution to the problem of world hunger?

This product was conceived to address critical infrastructure needs —refrigeration, power, clean water, and ice. The Aldelano Solar ColdBox is an industrial-grade, portable, solar-powered cold storage mini-warehouse. We have taken a proven, trusted cold storage technique—the refrigerated shipping container—and improved it for total off-grid use. In addition to reliable refrigeration and freezing, the Aldelano Solar ColdBox provides a completely renewable auxiliary power source and water and ice production utilizing molecules from the air and the power of the sun. Ideal for remote locations and with virtually no operating costs, the Solar Cold Box is deliverable virtually anywhere. The 40 ft. unit handles and transports as a standard shipping container. Installation is a breeze. The box is wired and ready to run. Simply set up the solar panels. The box runs directly from solar energy during the day and stored solar energy (batteries) at night with up to 15 hours of battery feed before a back-up gas generator (included on every Solar ColdBox) is needed. Maintenance is equally simplified – clean the solar panels with a water hose and water the batteries once per month using the on-board easy watering system. It’s that easy.

Q: As a Christian business and ministry leader, one of your guiding principles has been helping people to make a “vertical leap” by empowering them to solve their problems. How does the Solar ColdBox reflect that principle?

For nearly fifty years, I’ve been in the problem-solving business, finding leaner, more cost-effective ways for major corporations to get their products in the hands of consumers. Through the B.O.S.S. and Vertical Leap ministries, I have also mentored hundreds of youth and adult leaders, helping them to dream bigger and achieve far more for God’s Kingdom than they ever thought they could. In that time, I’ve seen that when you help someone solve a problem, you win favor for the Kingdom. The Aldelano Solar ColdBox is a GOD idea, a “with God all things are possible” solution to an impossibly big problem. The time has come to answer the cries of the people, and that takes more than just feeding them, because the lack of food is a symptom of a larger problem— the missing or unreliable infrastructure. We are offering an alternative to the infrastructure – a way to generate power, provide refrigeration and generate safe drinking water almost anywhere, at any time. Vegetables that would normally rot within hours and days can now be preserved for weeks and months. Thanks to the unique auxiliary power feature, the Aldelano Solar ColdBoxTM offers an environmentally clean, completely renewable energy solution without the high startup costs of running wires from village to village or maintaining the grid.

We are empowering people and nations who have, until now, been bound by their dependence on failed infrastructure. Our God-given desire is to see the nations rise up and unearth the wealth God has already provided them.

Q: One of the most amazing features available on the Solar ColdBox is the Aldelano Solar WaterMaker, which generates clean water from thin air. Tell us more about this technology and its potential to save lives.

The devastating effects of poor water quality are well documented. A 2014 study commissioned by the World Health Organization estimates that over 500,000 deaths per year in developing countries are due to diarrheal diseases caused by inadequate water supplies and poor sanitation. Young children are especially vulnerable. Experts say that 1 out of every 5 deaths in children under the age of 5 is caused by water-related illnesses. Again, this goes back to a lack of infrastructure.

The Aldelano Solar WaterMaker produces up to 1,000 gallons of water per day, using only the sun and the air. Even on a cloudless day, moisture is still present in the form of water vapor. The air contains billions of gallons of water. The Aldelano Solar WaterMaker is a literal lifesaver, harnessing the water molecules in the air and creating drinkable water. In the time it would take a family to walk to a water supply that is possibly contaminated by disease, the Aldelano Solar WaterMaker could produce gallons of water that can be used for drinking, cooking, or farming. The water could also be converted to ice for fishing with the Aldelano Solar IceMaker.

Q: In addition to its life-saving potential for developing nations, the Aldelano Solar ColdBox provides a wealth of benefits for industrialized nations like the U.S. How would the ColdBox be used in these places?

If you were to do a simple internet search on the United States power grid, the results might keep you up at night. Our power grid is far more vulnerable than most people realize. There is always the potential for power failures caused by high usage during heat waves, damage from natural disasters, or even terrorist attacks. In some areas affected by Hurricane Sandy, for example, the power was out for weeks, and people got a taste of what life can be like in the developing world. The Aldelano Solar ColdBox provides peace of mind for any company or organization that requires refrigeration—farms, warehouses, grocery stores, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, florists, …the list goes on. The complete portability of our system makes it an ideal resource for military base camps, mining operations, and disaster relief organizations. The box can be delivered to virtually anywhere in the world in a matter of days. The Aldelano Solar ColdBox also provides a convenient, cost-effective solution when overflow storage is needed. Best of all, this can all happen with minimal operating costs – that’s a win for everyone.