Making fridges use less energy

This just in from Rosie Knott of South Australia:

Dear Michael,

I read your book ‘Sustainable House’ 4 years ago, when I purchased my house.

Your description of a ‘cool pantry’ interested me, as I had a cupboard in the middle of my house which I thought would be suitable to adapt, as the space under the timber floor is huge and maintains cellar temperature.

However . . .

I modified your idea and it works a treat. So this is something you might like to suggest for subsequent editions of your book:

You suggest in your book that there should be a space at the back of every shelf to allow the cool air to transfer through the cupboard, but I have placed my (solid) shelves with the gap alternating front, back, front, back to force the cool air to pass over every shelf.

I have also enhanced the flow of air by putting a small solar collector on the roof above the cupboard, and a 12 volt computer fan on the top of a small length of 6” flue which sits on the top vent. It draws really well, but it hasn’t managed to exhaust the supply of cool air from under the house, even on the longest day (which was a really hot one).

So, if you’re editing the book for further editions, you may like to suggest this adaptation to readers.

I was so delighted with the way it works, I just want to let anyone interested know.

I may later insert a switch into the circuit, as I won’t need the fan to run on sunny days in winter.

Cheers, and thanks for the book.

Sincerely,

Rosie Knott

Willunga, South Australia

 

Great feedback, thank you Rosie.

M

Comments
2 Responses to “Making fridges use less energy”
  1. Michael says:

    Hi Michael
    Thanks for the second edition of ‘Sustainable House’ and your honest appraisal of what worked and what you would do differently.

    I’m looking for a new low energy using fridge as my first step towards a sustainable house and I’m puzzled by the information in the second edition and the subsequent outcome of my search for such a fridge.

    On p238, you suggest buying a fridge that has energy consumption of less than 500 Wh per day.

    On p58, Peter Reefman is quoted as buying a ‘mid-sized 5-star Electrolux which [is] rated at 355kWh per year’ or 977 Wh per day. My research with retailers and on the E3 Equipment Energy Efficiency website (http://reg.energyrating.gov.au) confirms that such mid-sized Electrolux fridges of around 430-450l capacity will use around 870-1110 Wh per day depending on whether they have top-mounted or bottom-mounted motors respectively – single door fridges are even more energy efficient but don’t achieve 500 Wh per day energy consumption. I note that Peter was able to reduce the energy use of his fridge to 650 Wh per day by enclosing it in a ventilated cupboard.

    So I would very much like to know of the brand and model of any fridge that can operate on 500 Wh per day. Or is your recommendation for a fridge, small or mid-sized, but enclosed in a ventilated cupboard?

    Thanks in advance

    Michael

  2. ibika says:

    very interesting.. thanks for sharing

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  • Michael Mobbs

    Michael is a former Environmental Lawyer who is uniquely placed to consult in four main areas:

    • Sustainability Coach and Speaker,
    • Sustainable Urban Farm Design greening, watering and cooling the cityscape, roads, parks, suburbs,
    • Major Projects Consultant Commercial and Industrial,
    • Residential Sustainability Consultant.
    For permission to re-print any articles or to book Michael for a speaking engagement go to Contacts. Please ensure all quotes from Michael's blog include a reference to sustainablehouse.com....au.