The appliance that sucks up the most electricity in any home is always the refrigerator. But how do you keep your drinks cool all the time without one? A new refrigeration technology called V-Tex chills drinks at time of purchase. Which works well for vending machines.

The system doesn't need gallons of liquid nitrogen either. It chills drinks for 45 seconds to 41°F.

Vending machines using the V-Tex technology are being introduced and trialled in Holland next month, but home units are also being developed. Can we make ice faster soon? [Enviro-Cool via PSFK]