The fridge would actually have to work harder though, to maintain a larger temperature difference between its hot and cold sides. So it’ll likely use more energy than the way fridges normally work.
In winter, if it’s cold enough outside, refrigeration may not actually be needed. You could just pump coolant between inside the fridge and an external radiator to cool it.
But, now you have a more complicated system that requires more permanent installation into the house, and also has an outdoor radiator that needs to be maintained so it doesn’t get clogged with leaves or damaged.
The fridge would actually have to work harder though, to maintain a larger temperature difference between its hot and cold sides. So it’ll likely use more energy than the way fridges normally work.
I think their idea is to still use the chill air from the room for cooling the heat exchanger of the fridge, but transporting the then hotter air outside of the house (like a proper kitchen hood does) instead of keeping it in the kitchen.
Not too worried about how permanent the installation is. I mean how often do you move the fridge around your kitchen? Besides, these days a lot of them have a water faucet installed for the ice maker anyway. As for efficiency, the AC has to fight the same gradient already, but with the heat being dumped inside it has to overcome it twice.
It would add complexity and points of breakage, so it would need to be a robust enough system to make it worth it, which fights against it adding enough efficiency to be worth it.
Considering that there are news about newer smart fridges displaying ads. Then as soon as that happens.
Throwing a standard fridge out the window can already be kinda difficult.
Doing it to something that’s permanently installed is going to be much harder, though maybe more cathartic due to needing to use a crowbar.
I’m not sure that it would he equivalent - the AC has to fight a smaller temperature difference between outside and inside.
Also, I am not sure how much it’d really save for the extra complexity. A lower maintenance way of improving overall efficiency could maybe be some way of capturing that heat to warm water a bit, so that could save your water heater some work by preheating it perhaps. That would keep all plumbing internal, and the fridge may even fight a smaller temperature difference, since tap water is usually cold. Though now if your water heater and “warm water” tank are full what do you do for the fridge?
I do think that “better insulation for the house” or “just a more efficient fridge” probably trumps any of these changes in terms of energy saving for your investment in many cases.
We have those. Built in fridges are hella expensive.
outdoor radiator that needs to be maintained so it doesn’t get clogged with leaves or damaged
Ditto. Just not hooked to the fridge.
In winter,
Weirdly, winter can require heating the fridge. Also, depending, it can be really hard on the pump. There are specific fridges made to handle garages (most people use a junk fridge and put low value items that do not require refrigeration, but are more enjoyable cold, in it.).
The fridge would actually have to work harder though, to maintain a larger temperature difference between its hot and cold sides. So it’ll likely use more energy than the way fridges normally work.
In winter, if it’s cold enough outside, refrigeration may not actually be needed. You could just pump coolant between inside the fridge and an external radiator to cool it.
But, now you have a more complicated system that requires more permanent installation into the house, and also has an outdoor radiator that needs to be maintained so it doesn’t get clogged with leaves or damaged.
I think their idea is to still use the chill air from the room for cooling the heat exchanger of the fridge, but transporting the then hotter air outside of the house (like a proper kitchen hood does) instead of keeping it in the kitchen.
Not too worried about how permanent the installation is. I mean how often do you move the fridge around your kitchen? Besides, these days a lot of them have a water faucet installed for the ice maker anyway. As for efficiency, the AC has to fight the same gradient already, but with the heat being dumped inside it has to overcome it twice.
It would add complexity and points of breakage, so it would need to be a robust enough system to make it worth it, which fights against it adding enough efficiency to be worth it.
Considering that there are news about newer smart fridges displaying ads. Then as soon as that happens.
Throwing a standard fridge out the window can already be kinda difficult. Doing it to something that’s permanently installed is going to be much harder, though maybe more cathartic due to needing to use a crowbar.
I’m not sure that it would he equivalent - the AC has to fight a smaller temperature difference between outside and inside.
Also, I am not sure how much it’d really save for the extra complexity. A lower maintenance way of improving overall efficiency could maybe be some way of capturing that heat to warm water a bit, so that could save your water heater some work by preheating it perhaps. That would keep all plumbing internal, and the fridge may even fight a smaller temperature difference, since tap water is usually cold. Though now if your water heater and “warm water” tank are full what do you do for the fridge?
I do think that “better insulation for the house” or “just a more efficient fridge” probably trumps any of these changes in terms of energy saving for your investment in many cases.
We have those. Built in fridges are hella expensive.
Ditto. Just not hooked to the fridge.
Weirdly, winter can require heating the fridge. Also, depending, it can be really hard on the pump. There are specific fridges made to handle garages (most people use a junk fridge and put low value items that do not require refrigeration, but are more enjoyable cold, in it.).