Energy consumption of refrigerators as affected by selected consumer practices

Abstract

This study was designed to measure the effect of selected consumer practices on energy consumption of refrigerators. Seven tests designed to simulate consumer practices were performed three times each on four refrigerators. Four tests involving variations in temperature control setting, frequency and duration of door openings, and placement of the refrigerator near a heat source were each performed on a manual-defrost refrigerator, a cycle-defrost refrigerator-freezer, and a no-frost refrigerator-freezer. A test involving the use of an energy-saver switch was performed on a no-frost refrigerator-freezer, and two tests related to the effect of frost accumulation on energy consumption were performed on a manual-defrost refrigerator. Watt-hour consumption and interior cabinet temperature were recorded for all tests.

Increasing the temperature control setting, frequency of door openings, and duration of door openings; the use of an energy-saver switch; and the defrosting process all increased the energy consumption of the refrigerators. Operating the refrigerator near a heat source did not affect energy consumption to the extent of the other tests. Due to inconsistent results, the effect of frost accumulation on energy consumption needs further investigation.