Re: [GBlist] energy efficient refrigerators

[William Revelle <wr@revelle.net>]

>Why is a refrigerator with a freezer at the bottom more efficient than
>those with freezers at the top?    Sacie Lambertson


Unfortunately, as much as I have enjoyed the various responses to the 
question (i.e., heat rises, it is more work to get into the top bin, 
etc.), the answer is that according to the energy star web page on 
appliance efficiency, refrigerators with freezers at the top are 
actually more efficient than those with the freezer at the bottom.

For a comparison of refrigerators of all kinds, go to 
http://www.energystar.gov/products/search.asp?atype=RF and then 
download the Excel table.  When you do this you discover several 
things: size matters (bigger refrigerators use more energy), outside 
cold water and ice makers are very energy inefficient, and top or 
bottom frigerators are better than side by sides.  However, it is 
clear that the very few bottom freezer types are slightly less 
efficient (although probably more convenient) than the top freezers.

I am enclosing a graphic of this, in which I plot the data from the 
energy star web page.

Bill




>
>______________________________________________________________________
>This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
>Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
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-- 
----------------------------
William Revelle               http://pmc.psych.nwu.edu/revelle.html    
Department of Psychology, Northwestern University
Personality Project: http://personality-project.org/personality.html

refrig.gif

______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________