A New Refrigerator? Think Fuel Efficiency!
Jun 20 '00
Yes Fuel Efficiency! Even though most refrigerators run on electricity, thinking of the fuel efficiency will drive down your overall costs in running one. Right now, to my left, my Amana refrigerator is steadily humming. That hum is the sound of it cooling my milk, but it's also the sound of it spending my money, and our collective energy resources.
Look around, is your choice an energy hog?
Most refrigerators available on the market are energy hogs, like my Amana. When I picked it, I wasn't thinking energy efficiency. I was thinking "My old fridge just bit the dust, I want a new one, bigger, better, flashier." In other words, I was shopping emotionally, once again. The result? It looks impressive, it has lots of room, but believe me, it sucks up the kilowatts.
You don't have to do it that way, there are choices.
Oh yes, you could wait till your fridge breaks, then run down to the local Monkey Wards and pick the biggest one you could find too. There are, however, energy efficient refrigerators and freezers, none of which you'll see listed in the general categories, because they're from smaller companies. You may have to do a little homework for one, and might have to order it online, but it could well be worth it for energy savings in the long run. For instance, did you know that there's a 10.4 cu. ft. refrigerator that you can buy that uses only .88 kW per 24 hours? (Granted, 10.4 cu. ft is small, but if you think about it, how much wasted space do you normally have in your fridge anyhow? I usually have plenty, with my standard American ego sized refrigerator. Now the energy efficient refrigerator I'm talking about is extremely well insulated, with a sealed design. It's also very quiet (and I'd say the noise level of a refrigerator is also a consideration), and uses ozone friendly refrigerants. Of course, they don't sell it at the local mall. The same brand name sells a chest freezer that costs about half as much to run as the conventional chest freezer. Since, as some reviewers have pointed out, a refrigerator or freezer isn't just an impulse item of short duration, but can last years and years and years, wouldn't it be nice if during those years, you paid half as much for the energy to use the thing?
Plan ahead
A novel concept, but one I intend to apply. Look for a new refrigerator before your old one breaks. Do your homework. For instance, did you know that in addition to electric refrigerators, I've seen propane powered refrigerators, and kerosene refrigerators? And did you know that some models have an exterior thermometer that tells you how cold it is inside the refrigerator, and actual knobs outside, so that you can turn the cooling of the refrigerator UP on hot days, and lower on cool ones? This will save you money. There's even a refrigerator I've seen that runs strictly on solar power! It was developed to transport medicines that need refrigeration in areas of Africa where there is no electricity, or option for using alternate fuel. It's available through at least one vendor online.
The options are out there
You don't have to get the same fuel hog refrigerator that your neighbor gets. You can plan ahead, buy a refrigerator before you need one, before your old one breaks. You can do your homework, and decide if a gas refrigerator, a solar refrigerator, a fuel efficient electric refrigerator,and an ozone friendly refrigerator is right for you. And, since you're able to read this, you're able to get to a search engine and find those less run-of-the-mill options out there, and take advantage of them. That's what I'm doing next time around. Go to it!
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Epinions.com ID:
adonna
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Member: Donna Hall
Location: Humboldt County, California
Reviews written: 164
Trusted by: 100 members
About Me:
When I'm not here, I'm birding. (Or working, or gardening, or playing with power tools.)
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