Extreme weather events like scorching heat waves, wildfires, and severe droughts are all indications that we’re experiencing a climate crisis. Thus, in this time of extreme temperature, one must rethink how to remain cool while solving the current cooling paradox. Today we will help you with that by discussing everything you need to know about efficient refrigeration. Let’s get started!
Refrigeration and Climate Change
Refrigeration is an essential part of our modern lives. Whether we’re trying to make refreshing drinks for a perfect night in or extending the lives of prepared food and leftovers, we always turn to refrigerators. However, these appliances, along with other cooling equipment, pose a serious threat to the environment.
Cooling appliances typically use refrigerants like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) or chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which have a thousand times more global warming potential than carbon dioxide (CO2). These pollutants leaked into the atmosphere significantly contribute to the climate disasters headlining the news today. With the continuous use of these chemicals, we will most likely experience more catastrophic climate events.
More than refrigerants, refrigerators and freezers require a tremendous amount of energy to work. And since our electricity grids heavily rely on fossil fuels (the most significant contributor to climate change), the simple use of an appliance that aims to reduce temperature risks our only home, Earth.
Refrigeration Going Green
With all the environmental impacts the cooling and refrigeration industry provides, we’re trying to scale up our efforts and look for innovative solutions. As of now, here are a few of them:
Bans and Phase Downs of Harmful Refrigerants
198 countries around the world have signed on to a treaty called the Montreal Protocol, which regulates the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). When released into the atmosphere, these refrigerants damage Earth’s stratospheric ozone layer, which protects us from UV radiation. Thus, in 2007, parties accelerated the phaseout of the said chemicals and found hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as an alternative.
However, while HFCs don’t have the same ozone-depleting threats as CFCs and HCFCs, they have warming potentials that are a thousand times higher than CO2. Thus, the parties to the Montreal Protocol reached an agreement in 2016 to phase down HFCs. Under the agreement, countries must reduce their use of HFCs by 85% by the late 2040s. Developed countries are expecting their first reductions in 2019 while developing countries will follow the freeze of HFC consumption in 2024.
Transitioning to Natural Refrigerants
A part of the Montreal Protocol with the Kigali Amendment is facilitating the transition to low-GWP cooling technologies. And using CO2 as a natural refrigerant is one that’s being considered. CO2-based cooling systems manipulate the gas pressure after using highly compressed CO2. When the gas expands as a result of decreasing pressure, they absorb the heat. The good thing about this is that any CO2 that escapes from these cooling systems has less warming potential than common refrigerants.
These are all happening on a global scale. But still, you can contribute to the cause by simply choosing refrigeration solutions using R-290 (propane) or R-600A (isobutane) refrigerant and increasing your refrigeration efficiency. Here’s how you can do it:
Increasing Your Refrigeration Efficiency
Nowadays, it’s crucial to take part in mitigating climate change in any way we can. With efficient refrigeration, you can reduce your energy consumption. And this means lowering your electricity bills and environmental impact. Below are a few tips you can follow to increase the efficiency of your refrigerator:
Clean the Coils
We recommend cleaning the condenser coils underneath your fridge at least once a year. That way, you can improve its efficiency by 30%. But before you carefully vacuum or brush the coils, be sure to unplug the unit first.
Set the Temperatures at an Optimum Level
Always check your fridge’s temperature with a thermometer and set it at an optimal level. The ideal temperature for a refrigerator is 35-38 degrees Fahrenheit and 0-5 degrees Fahrenheit for a freezer. Putting them 10 degrees colder can use up to 25% more electricity. Besides optimizing the temperature, always defrost the fridge whenever the ice becomes 1/4 inches thick.
Control the Room Temperature
For every degree over the normal ambient room temperature (70 degrees), refrigerators might consume 2.5% more electricity. Also, if your refrigerator is located close to an oven or dishwasher, it might use more energy. Finally, keep in mind that the thermostat might not properly execute its cooling and defrost cycles if the room’s air temperature drops below 40 degrees.
Check the Seals on the Refrigerator Doors
The seals around refrigerator doors may become loose through the years. And when it happens, it can increase your electricity bill due to the extra energy needed to keep the fridge at the desired temperature. Thus, it’s important to check it from time to time.
What you want to do is place a paper bill between the fridge door and the door seal to test the seal. Do this several times along the door edge. If it slides easily, that just means that you have to change your seals to keep the cool air and reduce your energy consumption.
The Bottom Line
Now more than ever, everyone’s help is needed to mitigate climate problems. By simply following our tips for efficient refrigeration, you can make an impact on our overall efforts. So, take part in our fight against climate change today so we can see a greener future.
Also, read:Â Duct Cleaning Does More Than Just Keep Your Energy Costs Down
