Knowledge Base

A refrigerator is a cooling appliance that transfers heat from its thermally insulated compartment to the external environment, and thus cooling the stored food in the various compartments. They are one of the highest consumers of electricity, although they have become significantly efficient in the past few years and are still improving. The label on new refrigerators tells you how much electricity in kilowatt-hours (kWh) a particular model uses in one year. The smaller the number, the less energy the refrigerator uses and the less it will cost you to operate.

Two types of home refrigerators are available in the market:

Direct cool refrigerators are the most basic types where cooling within the fridge compartment is done without any fanning. There is no frozen storage compartment and the cooling is rather done by a natural convection within the refrigerator where one part may become cooler than another area inside the compartment. These refrigerators are more energy efficient but require manual defrosting periodically. This segment includes under it only a few single-door refrigerators.

Almost all modern refrigerators are frost free refrigerators using electric fans to circulate cool air inside the chambers along with door cooling technology. Every six hour or so, a timer turns on a heating coil wrapped around the freezer coils and melts the ice around it. When all the ice is removed, the temperature sensor senses the temperature rising above 0ºC and turns off the heating coil. The end result also plays a part in ensuring long work life to refrigerator components. These models do not require you to manually defrost them from time to time. Moreover, frost free refrigerators are efficient at keeping a consistent temperature throughout the fridge cavity.

Life span and cost

A typical refrigerator has a lifespan of 15 to 20 years and the cost of running it over such time period is several times the initial purchase price. Therefore it is important to buy the most efficient model available. A BEE 5-star rated refrigerator that costs more initially will have lower operation costs because of better construction and insulation, and will pay for itself in less than four years compared to a 2-star refrigerator. Models with top bottom mounted freezers use 12 per cent less energy than side-by-side designs.

Before buying the refrigerator

Before buying a refrigerator, it is important to consider its energy efficiency aspects apart from price, warranty, after-sales service, etc. In this context, while selecting a refrigerator, do refer to the BEE Star Rated Label affixed on the refrigerator and also refer to the Star Rating analysis promoted by BEE from time to time through its web site (www.bee-india.nic.in).

Choosing the right size

Make sure you are choosing a refrigerator that is approximately sized for your storing and cooling needs. If your fridge is too small, you may be overworking it. If it is too large, you are paying higher initial cost, and potentially wasting energy and home space. Always ascertain the storage volume of the refrigerator because this is the actual space available to you for storing food items.

Tips

• While placing the refrigerator in home, ensure that it is at least 100 mm (4 inches away) from the walls to facilitate effective working. If the heat does not escape, the refrigerator’s cooling system will work harder and use more energy.
• Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 35-38 °F (1 -3 °C) for the fresh food compartment and 0° F (-18 °C) for separate freezers for long-term storage. You can check the refrigerator temperature by placing an appliance thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator. Read it after 24 hours. Check the freezer
• The refrigerator unit should also be leveled appropriately to ensure that its door closes easily and tightly after its use to minimize unwanted warm air infiltration in the cooling space.
• Allow hot and warm foods to sufficiently cool down before putting them in refrigerator. It is also advisable to put them in sealed (air tight) containers. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
• When dust builds up on refrigerator’s condenser coils, the compressor works harder and uses more electricity. Therefore clean the coils regularly

Top Models

There are multiple types and brands of refrigerators or fridges available in the market today and Bijli Bachao have decided to put up a list of “Top Ten refrigerators in India” by electricity consumption and size. To consult the list, simply click on Top Ten.

Useful Links:

• Bureau of Energy Efficiency
• Centre for Science and Environment, India
• Bijli Bachao