Energy Wasters and a Decision To Take
By Anna
@LadyDuck (457412)
Switzerland
September 6, 2017 7:14am CST
Yesterday evening one of my two refrigerators has stopped working. It's annoying, because it's the one that is placed inside the cabinet.
While I was searching online to find a replacement, I was evaluating if to replace it or to renounce and reduce the quantity of the fresh food I usually keep in the refrigerator.
The refrigerator is one of the top electricity wasters, it consumes the 4% of the annual electricity cost with an average of 95$/year.
I think that we could live with only 1 refrigerator, of course we would be in trouble the day it stops working.
What would you decide in my place, to replace or to renounce?
For those who like to know, the biggest energy waster are:
- Heating and Cooling - 47% of the energy with an average of 1,056 $/year
- Water heater - 14% $317/year
- Washer & Dryer - 13% $ 143/year.
Photo: to the left the broken refrigerator, to the right the working one.
78 people like this
86 responses
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
6 Sep 17
I would buy a second mainly for big items, we have a bar-sized fridge downstairs. When I finally reorganized all the bottles and items that were inside the old one, I was able to place everything in the new one. I am not sure we will buy a second one soon.
5 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
6 Sep 17
I cannot tell you what to do, I do not know your needs. Living alone, one is enough for me. I got rid of the freezer when I moved and I bought a cheap food dehydrator. Not sure that I do savings on electricity with it, but if it stops to work I will not have to run to replace it, and it is incredible the space that dehydrating fruits and vegetables saves (for example 2 kg of fresh bananas can hold in a 250 g jar once dehydrated).
8 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
6 Sep 17
@LadyDuck I guess it is my survival side : I want to have to eat if there is a major electricity failure. I have a lot of survival gadgets, including an emergency charger and a mini laptop running on normal AA batteries : I am ready for an hurricane
.
.6 people like this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
6 Sep 17
I have a dehydrator, I use it also for the tomatoes when there are many fresh from the garden. Do we need it? Not really. We can go grocery shopping twice a week and avoid buying too much food. Of course it was great to have a "backup" yesterday evening, because I moved everything inside the other refrigerator and nothing went spoiled.
7 people like this
@crossbones27 (48408)
• Mojave, California
6 Sep 17
Holy crap, Anna done went political, not really but in these times. People are off. Love this post miss lady. Great job of showing examples.
5 people like this
@crossbones27 (48408)
• Mojave, California
6 Sep 17
@LadyDuck Indeed, love as in people can learn. Not at your misery and punch me in the face in the morning, Which will be hard because so far away. 
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
6 Sep 17
@crossbones27 I was so upset yesterday evening. I have just finished washing the dishes, I had all the extra work to move the food.
I was so upset yesterday evening. I have just finished washing the dishes, I had all the extra work to move the food.3 people like this
@sabtraversa (12855)
• Italy
6 Sep 17
I don't know how old the two refrigerators are, but I would stick with keeping one, if you can do so.
If you're unlucky again then there must be a solution for keeping food fresh and "edible" for some time, while immediately going to the store and get a new one. I doubt that's going to happen soon, that'd be too much. 
7 people like this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
6 Sep 17
The one that gave up was 25 years old, it was already in the house when we bought it. The second is only two years old. I think that I will not buy another soon and if I am unlucky we will host a big party and eat everything that is inside the refrigerator.
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
7 Sep 17
@GardenGerty It's the only way not to waste food.
It's the only way not to waste food.2 people like this
Better be ready than to be sorry when something happens.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16518)
• China
6 Sep 17
I think you cann't make do with only one refrigerator ,if you live far away from the grocery or market.You might as well buy a energy-saving refrigerator.I wonder if placing refrigerator inside the cabinet affects its dissipation of heat.
3 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16518)
• China
7 Sep 17
@LadyDuck I don't get why you have to place the refrigerator inside a cabinet.Is it so arranged that it doesn't take up any space?
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
7 Sep 17
@changjiangzhibin89 Yes, this space is made for the refrigerator and if I do not use this space, I have no other places in the kitchen where to put it.
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
7 Sep 17
renounce for a while and if it proves impractical then replace
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
8 Sep 17
@LadyDuck hope it works out - if you don't need a replacement it will save you money
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
8 Sep 17
@arthurchappell Absolutely, it's better to be sure before wasting money.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
6 Sep 17
Like I said, replace both. Food it important and costly and you need a reliable vehicle for it. I don't consider paying for electric a waste of money, it's a necessity. I enjoy living in comfort, that's why I worked hard to be able to live like this now.
That is a very modern looking fridge considering it is 18 plus years old.
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
6 Sep 17
No, one of the two is new, it is still under warranty and it will be for another 5 years, this would be wasted money. The one inside the cabinet is 25 years old and I am only annoyed because those that must fit inside a cabinet cost twice the price of a normal refrigerator. There is no more place in the kitchen for another outside the cabinet.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
6 Sep 17
@AbbyGreenhill Those are the European standard, we have smaller spaces so we have narrow appliances.
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
6 Sep 17
@LadyDuck I don't think I've ever seen a tall skinny one like that.
4 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
6 Sep 17
I would say if you really don't need it then don't replace it. I have one refrigerator and a small freezer in the basement.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
6 Sep 17
@fishtiger58 I have seen one on the Ikea online store. The next week I go there to talk with them, I need someone to install the refrigerator.
3 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
6 Sep 17
@LadyDuck Good luck hope you can find just the right one.
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
6 Sep 17
I think you'd be alright with 1, but that's just me. I hope you caught it before your food spoiled
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
7 Sep 17
@LadyDuck Oh that is a blessing for sure :-)
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
6 Sep 17
thats terrible. knowing me if i could afford it i would keep 2. but it is your decision
3 people like this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
6 Sep 17
I read all the responses and your comments.Though it will sound logical,to renounce,I think you should replace.Hope you find a model you like.
3 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
6 Sep 17
I would definitely get the one that was the best energy saver.
Here I do not have a choice..because renting..this fridge is literally an energy consumer.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
7 Sep 17
This is what I think, now I clear the existing refrigerator to see if I have enough space to store the food I prepare when I have guests. If not I should consider to replace the existing one with a bigger one without the freezer on the bottom. We have a second freezer in the basement.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
7 Sep 17
I would look at my budget after I found a model that fit into the cabinet. If this fits in the budget, it is worth considering buying a replacement one. If this is rather expensive I would live with only 1 for the time being. However, you still need to consider the age of your second refrigerator. If it is less tan 7 years old it might be worth holding off and not buying a new one. If it is older, then I might consider the investment.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
7 Sep 17
The second refrigerator is only 2 years old, it's very good and energy efficient. I would have changed the old one, but it's not easy to take it off the cabinet and to find one that fits. I have seen one sold by Ikea, I have to go to their store and check the dimensions, I would not buy without checking personally.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
7 Sep 17
@LadyDuck In a case like yours, you have to be so careful with the size. I agree that it is important to go to the store and measure them first before you spend the money. It would be a disaster if you brought one home that was too big.
1 person likes this
