Make a fridge that uses 93% less electricity than a normal fridge. The trick is to just use a chest freezer as a fridge, after installing a new thermometer to turn the freezer off when the temperature drops too low. Chest freezers are more efficient than fridges because they have more insulation and because the cold air doesn't spill out when you open the door, because cold air falls down, not up.
There are a couple of obvious downsides. First is that it might not be as easy for you to access your food in a chest freezer. Another is that the new fridge will take up more floor space. Finally, you'll need a separate freezer. But if things things don't put you off, then you can save quite a bit of energy.
mods edit: thanks for the tip peklat... but for courtesy, let's give credit to where it is due.
source: michaelbluejay.com
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Re: How to save money on refrigerator costs
That's a great idea. Installing a ref thermostat will not be too difficult. But the space requirements...
Two door refs are also more energy conserving than single door refs. And if you can, avoid frostfree refrigerators. To become frost free, these refrigerators actually have heaters! They periodically cool, then heat the cooling fins inside. Plus there is a fan to blow the cold air around. These refs are much much more wasteful than regular refs.
Re: How to save money on refrigerator costs
Hi am new here. just registered just now. but I wonder if we can really cut on refrigerator energy costs. (devil's advocate ba! ;)) Isnt it that these refs are actually designed to consume energy and convert this to what convenience can give us? And cutting these costs can only mean that you will be reducing the convenience it is designed to deliver? Maybe turning it off often, like those "energy saving devices" do, can reduce its energy usage, but will it not, in effect, reduce its life expectancy, since turning off the compressor will only make it work harder the next time it is turned on again? just wondering. tnx ???
Re: How to save money on refrigerator costs
That's actually what the thermostat does. It turns off the compressor once the temperature reaches a certain level. Once the temp goes above this set level, the compressor turns on again. I normally set my refs temperature setting at 3. To me it gives the best balance between conservation and convenience.
Re: How to save money on refrigerator costs
Most refs today are auto-defrost na. A long time ago, refs are manually defrosted pa every 5-7 days. Meaning you need to unplug it, open the doors, and let the accumulated frost melt down, wipe off the excess water, then plug in again. Mga 2-3 hours na downtime ang ref mo just for this , and your fresh food/meat can spoil if you don't have a handy ice-box. Today, with auto-defrost, it's super convenient na, but it also uses up more energy because of the defrost heater near the evaporator coils. Setting just the right freezer temp and 'fresh food compartment' temp is a must to minimize energy. I'm still observing myself kung what best works for me.
Re: How to save money on refrigerator costs
u can try this, we've been doing this and it save us also 300.00 monthly, at night we turn the ref's thermostat at zero, not off. around 10 pm, and open it up again at around 5 am. just see to it at the first time you do it, your frozen items will still be frozen the following morning, just dont' forget to turn it on again, also check leaks on gasket of ref door.
Re: How to save money on refrigerator costs
For brand new ref buyers....try to choose yung malakas ang kapit ng magnet door seals at mataas yung EER(efficiency ratio). Sigurado matipid yun kasi di agad lumalabas yung lamig at na-maintain nang matagal yung temp. 🙂
Re: How to save money on refrigerator costs
Nice tip on the chest freezer converted to ref!
I would like to think that turning off the ref at night will save power without sacrificing food safety. The job of the thermostat is to turn off the compressor when set temp has been reached. At night refs are not opened hence I think the compressor does not run anyway. I believe refs should be run more at night than daytime to take advantage of the cooler ambient. Cooler ambient means less work for the compressor due to lower condensing temperatures.
By turning it off at night, temps will go up meaning the box and the food. At day when it is turned on, it will have to work extra hard to catch up on the cooling (to the set temp). At day, temperatures are hotter hence compressor is working hardest at the hottes part of the day.
Re: How to save money on refrigerator costs
Correction pala. It should have read " I would like to think that turning off the ref at night will "not" save power and might sacrifice food safety"
Thanks
Re: How to save money on refrigerator costs
To save on power costs on your ref make sure all the containers you put in the ref or freezer have lids on them. uncovered containers with left over food especially saucy foods will allow the moisture to get condensed and frozen on the coils acting as insulator requiring shorter defrost intervals. To keep on saving, limit the number of times the door of the ref or freezer is opened. allow a few inches of space between the back of the ref and the wall for better air circulation, keep the ref away from heating applicances like ranges and position the ref in the cooler area of the house or kitchen. Keep the ref away from other refs or freezers.
well i have experienced siemens are very good
they are very expensive, but their power supply cost is very low.
Re: How to save money on refrigerator costs
Unfortunately, Siemens is not available in the Philippines, AFAIK
Boyd
Re: How to save money on refrigerator costs
My 2 cents to save on refrigeration cost:
1. Buy the right size of the refrigerator.
2. Don't overload your ref. Make sure to leave space to let cold air circulate.
2. Ask people in your house, specially maids, to avoid opening and closing doors frequently.
3. Make sure that left over food are placed in a container "covered". Food absorbs cold moisture, adding load to cooling.
4. For "No Frost" ref. when you place meat and etc to your freezer, make sure NOT to cover the air vents of the freezer. This are the holes at the rear wall where the cold air comes out. Allow some space so that the air can circulate properly.
That's all 🙂
Re: How to save money on refrigerator costs
If I may share, sirs...
On regular refs, i try, as much as possible, to defrost when ice thickness reach 1/2 inch. (manufacturer's suggestion)
I normally do this (or have this done) in the afternoon where exterior temp is at its warmest.. Saves me some cost cause this is the time when the motor works hardest. With el nino around, its an easy way for me to perspire, too....
Prior to defrosting try turning "off" the ref during cooking time where ther's a lot of opening/closing activity.
Aside from the gaskets, i also try to wipe dry the exterior base to prevent (or lessen) rust build-up.
just one of my house chores....
Re: How to save money on refrigerator costs
Setting the thermostat to right conditions
try to adjust the thermostat
you don't need to set it up at max
when few items are in and no icecream and other frozen goods you can set it lower depending on the temp your place is
for me most of the time i set it up to the lowest possible
its quite adequate to freeze meat and keep everything cold in the fridge
i only need to set it up to half when there's icecream but lowest any other time
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