As everyone knows, the end of year
festivities are getting closer and closer. This is time to make plans with
family and friends for the festive season - what delicacies must be prepared –
cookies, chocolates and cakes. A lot needs to be stored in your fridge and
freezers! It could be high time to gift your loved ones or invest in new,
efficient ones!
People who have older appliances
need to be aware of the changes encountered in this modern world, with technologies
seeming to be upgraded every fortnight.
There are appliances available that are well equipped to meet the needs
of households for capacity and consumption. The recent Energy baseline study
(2016), showed that Fridge/ Freezers account for 15% of total Residential
Energy consumption – remembering that Fridge/Freezers are the only appliances
that stay on 24 x 7 from the first day they are plugged in.
Energy
Efficiency is a phrase you hear used every day, but it remains to be adopted as
a part of our daily life. As seen from the diagram, it is evident that there is
a high potential to adopt energy efficiency practises to reduce consumption of
electricity at home. The transformation shift must be done smoothly and should
not create a burden on our pockets. For this to happen, we need to understand
what are the best practices.
Do you really need a new Fridge/Freezer?
This
doesn’t apply to people who are planning to purchase for the first time. But if
you are replacing old appliances, it is important to know if you need a repair
or a replacement. Most Fridge/Freezers are built to last 10 to 20 years,
provided they are used as per the specifications. If the appliance is working
properly, consider repairing it if it is less than 7 years old. If the
appliance is more than 12 years old, consider replacing it. If the Fridge is
between 7 and 12 years, seek advice from a technician.
Saving money:
Both replacement
and repair costs money. Sometimes an inefficient Fridge could be consuming more
power than needed and thus will increase your electric bill. A 10-year-old fridge
uses twice the energy of a more modern Energy Star-related fridge. It is
important to select an efficient Fridge/Freezer that can benefit both your
wallet and the environment.
Types available:
When
choosing a Fridge/Freezer, consider different types according to their
capacity, energy usage, your needs and application. For example, Auto Defrost
consumes less energy than Manual Defrost, and top mount freezers use less
energy than bottom freezers – although this applies only when appliances are properly
maintained. The type of refrigerant gas used has been a concern in the past,
but harmful refrigerants are now prohibited in Seychelles and globally.
Add to your savings: take some simple steps to use your
appliances more efficiently, and factor in lifetime energy costs when
purchasing new appliances
1. Reduce heat loads by
avoiding placing the Fridge/Freezers close to any heat source (gas stove, oven)
2. Set the temperature to
suit the climatic conditions: every degree lower means more energy consumption.
Recommended
temperatures are 35°-38°F for the fresh food compartment and 0° F for separate
freezers used for long-term storage.
3. Leave space between the
appliance and the wall for free air circulation which supports the radiation of
waste heat from the appliance.
4. Avoid frequent opening of
the door, cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods
release moisture and cause the compressor to consume more power.
5. Never overfill the
appliance which affects the circulation of cold air inside. This may cause 20%
more consumption of electricity.
6. Maintain the appliance properly
(cleaning, defrosting, regular servicing of the condenser)
7. Make sure all the doors on a unit have
well-fitting seals that are fully intact. Simple Test: Place a piece of paper
in between the door and the body of the fridge. If you are able to pull the
paper out when the door is closed, the seal needs to be replaced.
No comments:
Post a Comment