Nowon-gu Resumes Healing Refrigerator Project for Heatwave Period

Healing Refrigerators Installed at a Total of 15 Locations, Available from July 17 to August 15, Including Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays

Some Changes in Locations and Hours Reflecting the 2022 Resident Satisfaction Survey and Operational Evaluations

To Reduce Disposable Product Consumption, All Water Provided Is Label-Free Bottled Water; Collected Bottles Will Be Recycled into Eco-Friendly Clothing via the Bottled Water Headquarters

Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced the resumption of the Healing Refrigerator project to prevent heat-related illnesses among residents during summer outdoor activities.

The ‘Healing Refrigerator’ is a representative heatwave countermeasure project first introduced by the district in 2020, which has been benchmarked by local governments nationwide. Due to enthusiastic support from residents, it has been supporting Nowon-gu citizens’ summer walking routes for four consecutive years.

This year, the Healing Refrigerators will be available for 30 days from July 17 to August 15 at riverside areas and walking trails frequently visited by residents. However, based on the 2022 operational evaluation results, some adjustments have been made to the locations and usage hours.

First, locations with extremely low bottled water consumption, such as ▲Yeongchuksan Circular Walking Trail (in front of Kwangwoon University Jeil Villa) and ▲Mukdongcheon Stream, have been excluded from the operation sites. Instead, a refrigerator will be newly installed near ▲Suraksan Barrier-Free Forest Trail (Jongdalsaek Children’s Park), which was not previously served, so existing users should take note.

Usage hours have also been slightly adjusted. Considering the safety of volunteers assigned during low-use early morning and nighttime hours, the previous operating hours from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. will be shortened slightly to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Operations will be supported by a volunteer disaster prevention group consisting of 210 volunteers, as in the previous year. Detailed information and locations can be found on the Nowon-gu Office website and official blog.

Additionally, to reduce waste and promote recycling, approximately 60,000 bottles of water supplied daily will all be label-free bottled water (330 ml). For the Healing Refrigerator’s dedicated recycling bins, the water supplier will collect bottles multiple times a day to improve collection and actual recycling rates. Collected bottles will be sent through the bottled water headquarters and recycled into eco-friendly clothing.

Polyester, the main raw material of plastic PET bottles, accounts for half of the world’s fiber production and is an essential material for clothing manufacturing. The district plans to contribute to the virtuous cycle and rebirth of resources by participating in the growing social interest in ‘eco-friendly fashion’ and ‘plastic reduction’ through recycling discarded PET bottles.

Since 2018, the district has operated the ‘Nighttime Heat Shelter,’ the first of its kind nationwide and recognized as an excellent heatwave case by local governments. From July, general and extended shelters are being operated. Especially this year, the first-floor lobby of the district office building has been newly designated as a heat shelter, open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and weekends throughout July and August.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “According to a satisfaction survey conducted last August with 37,058 Healing Refrigerator users, 99.2% expressed satisfaction. With forecasts indicating this summer’s heatwave will be unusually long and intense, we will make every effort to ensure all residents have a healthy and safe summer.”