[ad_1]
Your refrigerator is one of the largest appliances in your home, and it runs 24 hours a day. So, when you’re looking to reduce the carbon footprint of your home appliances, the fridge is one of the first places you’ll look. Not only are refrigerators the worst emitters in the home – that honor does not go to air conditioners – but refrigerators produce 4% of household emissions . 89 kg CO2/year, which increases over the lifetime of the device.
Box Effects
These devices contribute to climate change in two different ways. First, mainstream refrigerators are produced using electricity. That amount will vary depending on how much electricity the refrigerator uses and the power source used to power your home. On average, an older refrigerator uses 33% more energy than a current Energy Star refrigerator.
Refrigerators also contain refrigerants, which are red-listed chemicals with global warming potential. These heaters produce direct emissions. The amount depends on the type of heater used and how much it escapes to the atmosphere. Since the Montreal Protocol banned CFCs, refrigerators use R-134a as a refrigerant. Fluorocarbons such as R-134a are less harmful to the ozone layer than CFCs, but not necessarily worse. As of January 1, 2021, R-134a was phased out from refrigerators in favor of R-600a, which has 200 times less global warming potential.
Refrigerators generally do not provide enough cooling. But emptying the refrigerator releases all the refrigerant into the air. The Responsible Waste Disposal program has created a searchable map to locate service providers who will collect and safely dispose of old refrigerators.
Food Waste
Because we buy refrigerators to store food, it is unreasonable to think that they can contribute to food waste. But if your fridge is too big, food can get neglected and spoiled. Food waste accounts for 14% of US household carbon emissions; Learning how to properly store produce in your fridge will outlast the fridge you buy. Storing open containers in the refrigerator will increase the humidity. That makes the compressor work harder and increases the risk of breakage.
Low-Impact Cooling
You can reduce the impact of your refrigerator by regular maintenance and simple repairs. Check the door seal to make sure it’s airtight, and if it’s leaking, replace it. Use a narrow vacuum attachment and a brush to clean the coils and fan every month. Ducts get clogged and freezer fans get blocked by ice build-up. Check them when you clean the sheets.
You can also improve the efficiency of your refrigerator by setting the temperature higher. As many people waste energy by cooling their air conditioners, they keep their refrigerators at near-freezing temperatures. A temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit is best. Freezers should be set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn off appliances that use electricity, such as ice makers and heaters. Your refrigerator and freezer will work best when they are about three-quarters full.
Where you place the refrigerator in your kitchen can also make a difference. To allow for proper airflow around the coils, refrigerators should be placed at least an inch from the wall, and the top of the appliance should not be used for storage. Do not place the refrigerator next to heating appliances such as ovens or dishwashers. And try not to place the refrigerator in a place where the sun will come through the windows for large parts of the day.
Finally, remember your mom’s warning to keep the refrigerator door closed to prevent overheating.
Refrigerators are better
It means that it is more responsible for the environment to use things for a long time before replacing them. But there are places where prices for old appliances are falling. The Energy Star website has a savings calculator to help you decide whether to repair or replace the refrigerator.
When it’s time to replace your refrigerator, make sure it’s the right size for your family. The average size of the refrigerator is six cubic feet per person in the house. Larger refrigerators have more capacity, but are more efficient per cubic meter, so it’s better to buy a right-sized refrigerator than to keep it sitting in the basement. or the garage.
If you can get by with a small, low-power box, use the Best Star Energy list to find your best option. Check out Earth911’s refrigerator shopping guide for the best refrigerators for depth-by-depth or full-size.
[ad_2]
Source link
