Small Fridge: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

A Small Fridge Is a Great Addition to Any Dorm Room A handy accessory to any dorm, this small fridge has a can dispenser and removable glass shelves that accommodate tall bottles. It also has a reversible doors and comes in black or a finish that resembles stainless steel. Before purchasing a smaller fridge, consider the size of your kitchen and family size. You should ensure that the fridge is in a good place and doesn't touch the edges of your cabinets or island when it opens. ENERGY STAR A refrigerator that is energy efficient is a great choice for homeowners who are concerned about their impact on the environment. The ENERGY-STAR program offers specifications that refrigerators must meet to qualify for its energy-efficiency label. These requirements are laid out by the Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY Frydge use 30 percent less energy than the minimum federal standards. They also produce less carbon dioxide than their non-ENERGY STAR counterparts. If you're considering buying an ENERGY STAR refrigerator, you should see whether your local utility provider or other organizations offer rebates to help you improve your energy efficiency. These rebates could help offset the upfront cost of buying a new refrigerator. You can also determine if your utilities offer a recycling program for refrigerators. This will reduce the amount of garbage that is disposed of in landfills. A small refrigerator is always running and consumes a lot of energy. Selecting a model that is energy efficient will significantly reduce your electric bills. You'll also want to look at the type of refrigerant that is used in every refrigerator. Many older models use harmful chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, which are potent greenhouse gasses that contribute to global warming. Modern refrigerators use eco-friendly coolants like R600a. Also, you should look for companies that are consistent with their environmental stance and transparency regarding the materials they use in their products. When you are choosing a smaller fridge take into consideration that the ENERGY STAR label doesn't necessarily mean a cheap price. Manufacturers are often required to invest money in research and development to meet the energy STAR standards. These costs are then passed on to consumers. Homeowners can easily recover this initial cost by reducing their electric costs. A few homeowners might wonder if it's worth the cost to purchase an energy-efficient mini fridge. These mini fridges are utilized for storing snacks and drinks and they're always on. A smaller, more energy efficient model is better for the planet than a larger one. A large fridge uses 35x more energy than a smaller refrigerator of similar capacity. Therefore, a smaller fridge with an ENERGY STAR rating can save you a significant amount of money over the course of its life. POWER CONSUMPTION A compact refrigerator will typically consume less energy than a full-sized fridge. The amount of energy consumed is dependent on a variety of factors like the age of the fridge and its insulation. It also depends where you place it. Refrigerators located close to sources of heat, such as radiators or ovens must be more efficient in cooling their interior, resulting in higher energy bills. The size of the fridge will also impact the amount of energy it uses, as do the temperature settings. Studies have shown that refrigerators with thermostats set to a warmer temperature use more energy. The energy consumption of the refrigerator increases when you open the door. This is because it allows warm air to enter and cold air to escape. This causes the compressor to work harder to restore the correct temperature. If you're looking to find out how much energy your refrigerator consumes look up the label. It will have a number that shows its running wattage. Multiply the number by 24 to get the total amount of energy it uses per day, then multiply by the local electric rate to determine the number of kilowatt hours it consumes in the course of a year. You can also make use of an inexpensive device called an energy-meter that shows live data on your fridge's electrical usage. Utilizing a power meter is the best way to accurately calculate the amount of electricity consumed by your refrigerator, but you can also make use of an online calculator to calculate the amount it will cost to run your fridge throughout the year. This figure does not include extra costs such as repairs, maintenance or replacements of components or electricity in peak hours. If you're thinking of buying a mini-fridge that is powered by solar energy, make sure you select one with high conversion efficiency. This will allow it to convert the maximum amount of sunlight every day into energy. This will decrease the refrigerator's dependence on the grid, and save you money over time. INTERIOR When refrigerators first came into use as an essential kitchen tool, their design was quite simple. As time passed, they began to come in different sizes and models, in addition to designs and colors. This has also been the case with mini fridges. They are an excellent solution for a small office, basement, or dorm room, as they can store many containers of food and drinks and they are extremely effective in keeping things cool. Another thing to consider when looking for a compact refrigerator is the design. Some designs are more modern while others are more retro. It is important to choose the style that you like and how it fits with the decor of your home. For instance, you can choose the black finish that goes to any style of decor or a sleek stainless steel that looks fantastic in any kitchen. You can also find designs that are a bit more playful and fun like those with popular characters such as Hello Kitty or Mickey Mouse. These are great for kids bedrooms or college students looking to add some character to their rooms while having a reliable refrigerator for late-night studying! Also, you must look at the capacity when selecting mini fridges. They are more convenient than larger refrigerators but they only hold a certain amount of food. It is also important to consider the space for freezers, which can be limited too. If you're planning to use your mini fridge for lots of frozen food items and other items, then a freezer that has ample space is a must. When you are looking for a smaller fridge, you must also be aware of the noise level. While this won't be as much of a factor for those using the fridge inside but it could be a major issue if you plan on putting it outdoors or in a noisy environment. It's also important to check for temperature control options as well as interior lighting, since these will influence how quiet a mini fridge is. SIZE A small refrigerator can be put in many different places. The most important thing to do is make sure that the fridge is the right size for the space. The fridge should be large enough to hold all the items you need and tall enough to reach the counter, and wide enough to open the door. A small fridge can be a great addition to a dorm room, the pantry, kitchenette or a office at home. It could also be a valuable addition in the garage, the basement, or in an RV. If you're going to be using your small fridge primarily for drinks, you might want to consider an ice-maker or mini-drink refrigerator. These smaller models are usually designed to fit a wide range of food and drinks and are also simpler to clean. Standard-sized refrigerators are a great option for many homes. They are often cheaper than larger models and come in a range of styles and colors. They also come with an integrated freezer, which is perfect for storing meats and frozen food items. When you are deciding on the ideal size fridge for your needs, keep in mind that most people need 4 to 6 cubic feet of storage space. This includes room for beverages, food and even some leftovers. If you're a family of four, you'll want refrigerators that can provide 16 to 20 cubic feet of space. Refrigerators function by circulating refrigerant inside an insulated container. The refrigerant's vapor absorbs heat and then the cold transforms back into a liquid state. This process continues for a long time. This process can take up to an hour, depending on the size and shape of your fridge. If you're purchasing a smaller fridge make use of a tape measure to determine the dimensions of the area where you're going to put it. Combine these measurements to get the cubic foot dimensions of the fridge. This will help you determine whether the fridge is the right size for your house. Remember to measure the height of your space because this will impact the distance that the door of your fridge can be opened.