"Neccesity is the mother of all inventions" has been proved true by this Octogenarian, Mr. M.B. Lal.

Harnessing ice as a cooling agent, the retired journalist converted his humble desert cooler into a rudimentary yet effective air conditioner.

He has invented a cooler called "snowbreeze" which runs on ice and is capable of decreasing the average room temperature by as much as seven degrees more than a cooler. It consumes the same electricity and costs between just Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 INR.

The seed of the idea germinated in a blazing June afternoon in 2007. A long power outage made Lal feel unwell and thirsty.

He wanted some water and instead his wife brought a huge plate full of ice. "The temperature in the vicinity dipped palpably," Lal recalls.

It rang a bell and he understood that when air is passed through any chilled object, it gradually cools down.

Interestingly, he has decided never to take a patent on his machine so that anyone can make its prototype anywhere in the world. "It can be a boon to hospitals, guesthouses and dormitories," he suggests.

Here is the official snowbreeze website. - on which you can place an order. They are sure to knock at your door in a day.