Looking into the post-carbon future, I ask myself: what is really essential? Food, water and sewage treatment top my list. Refrigeration is the very next thing. Without a refrigerator, much of my home-grown and hard-won food will go to waste! Refrigeration: GOOD! Spoiled food: BAD! Unfortunately, in most households, the refrigerator is the single biggest energy consuming kitchen appliance. So, what to do?

This morning I've been researching energy-efficient refrigeration options. It occurs to me that bulk purchase of refrigerators could bring the cost down. If outposts within reasonable driving distance of one another were to combine their purchasing power, they might achieve significant cost savings. In fact, as "The Post Carbon Institute" we might be able to broker a deal for all outpost members and others who are interested. Please contact me at the Sacramento Post-carbon Action Network (SPAN) if you are interested in forming a work group around this topic.

Here are the low-energy refrigeration basics I've found out so far:

Standard freezers and refrigerators can use 3000 watt hours each day. (For comparison purposes, I have converted all energy consumption figures to watt hours) A few better models like Maytag MTB1956 18 cu ft can be found that use under 1500 watt hours a day, and cost around $900. You need to add about 500 watts of solar modules in the best year round sunny weather to operate; more panels needed in less sunny areas. Total cost $900 refrigerator + $3,000 solar = $3,900 to use the best conventional units.

Combination gas-electric refrigerators are usable only as gas powered, not as electric. An electric heater running nearly full time replaces the gas flame. They use much more power than any electric compressor, so they are not practical electric units. Here in Sacramento the cost of natural gas has gone up 53% in the past two months. No thanks to the gas-powered off-the-grid fridge options of old...

Now for some good news. The Europeans and Canadians are way ahead of us wasteful Americans (I speak in the collective, not you or I!). They have technologies and refrigeration configurations that maximize the utility of their expensive energy outlays.

The ConServ refrigerator ($1,149-1,399, plus $195 shipping in U.S. 48) offers a total of 10.5 cubic feet (7.1 fridge, 3.4 freezer), with CFC-free refrigerant and foam (environmentally friendly) and uses (in 24 hours): at 68°F, 700 watt hours; at 77°F, 900 watt hours); at 90°F, 1,500 watt hours. That's half the energy of a standard fridge. Still... there's that $3,000 solar array to run it, even in the sunniest climes.

From what I've seen so far, the Crowley WCC12/F freezer with the fridge conversion option seems the best combination of cubic feet and energy consumption--if one is willing to concede that having a freezer in the post-carbon era will be an extravagance of extreme proportions... Perhaps neighbors could "freezer share" for special treats like ice cream and ice cubes. I, for one, would not mind walking half a block for a pint of Ben & Jerry's (if it's still available to buy!)

The 12.2 c.f. Crowley freezer ($470-560, including shipping) uses 450-550 watt hours a day. An optional, external thermostat converts the unit to an "ultra-low power" chest refrigerator. . Though I was unable to locate solid energy consumption figures for the unit operating as a fridge (I have e-mailed a query to the company), based on figures comparing same-manufacturer, same-square-footage fridges vs. freezers, the fridges appear to use approximately 35-40% as much energy as a freezer. Using this calculation, we can conjecture that the Crowley fridge option would use between 180-220 watt hours per day (40% of 450-550 watt hours per day).
Meanwhile, utilize these tips from Energy Star to reduce energy consumption now:
Position your refrigerator away from a heat source such as an oven, a dishwasher, or direct sunlight from a window.
To allow air to circulate around the condenser coils, leave a space between the wall or cabinets and the refrigerator or freezer and keep the coils clean.
Make sure the door seals are airtight.
Keep your refrigerator between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Minimize the amount of time the refrigerator door is open.
Recycle older or second refrigerators (Today's ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators use 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001!)