Refrigerator Power Consumption Calculation

Although the latest generation refrigerators are far more efficient from an energy point of view than the models of a few years, it is natural to have questions about the power consumption of a refrigerator. In this article we will answer the following questions related to refrigerator power consumption:

• How much electricity does a fridge use?
• How to reduce costs and save on the amounts in the bill?
• Factors That Determine Electricity Consumption Of A Fridge
• Whirlpool refrigerator power consumption
• Samsung refrigerator power consumption
• LG fridge power consumption
• FAQs

Let’s shed some light on this.

There are many appliances that manage to combine functionality, simplicity and an affordable price in order to improve life at home and the carrying out of daily operations, such as cooking, cleaning and tidying. 

One such appliance in our kitchens is certainly the refrigerator. It is essential for the storage and preparation of food, recreating – in any climatic condition – a cool environment, with a temperature of around 4 degrees centigrade.

Unlike other appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers and hobs, the refrigerator is always on to offer us fresh and well-preserved food, so the doubt about its electricity consumption spontaneously arises.

If you want to make the most of all its potential, without fearing excessive increases in your bills, in this article we will explain how to calculate the annual consumption in kWh of the appliance to help you understand how much its operation impacts on your pockets. Continuing reading, moreover, we will also give you some useful tips that will allow you to cut costs on your bill.

Factors That Determine Electricity Consumption Of A Fridge

Considering that on average a refrigerator consumes between 100 and 240 W / h and is in operation 24 hours a day, in order to calculate the electrical consumption of the appliance, it is necessary to take into account various factors, including in particular the energy rating and the age of the appliance.

Choosing the best 5 star refrigerator in India can result in a significant reduction in electricity costs but, as we have said, if you want to know how much your refrigerator actually consumes, you must also evaluate other variables:

• Size: The size of the fridge is the most obvious factor that determines electricity consumption. The larger the fridge, the more power it will require to run. That’s because a bigger fridge has more surfaces that need to be cooled down, and it takes longer for the cold air to circulate evenly throughout the fridge.
  
• Type: The type of fridge is also a major factor in electricity consumption. A traditional top-freezer fridge will consume more electricity than a bottom-freezer model, because the compressor is located on the top of the fridge and must work harder to keep the cold air circulating.
  
• Age: The age of the fridge is also a factor in how much electricity it consumes. A brand new fridge will require less power to run than an older model. Over time, seals and gaskets tend to wear down, which causes the fridge to work harder and consume more electricity.
  
• Cooling technology: The cooling technology used in fridges can have a significant impact on power consumption. For example, older style fridges with less efficient compressors can consume up to 50% more power than newer, more efficient models. Additionally, fridge designs that use fans to circulate cold air can also be more energy intensive. To reduce your fridge’s power consumption, look for a model with an efficient compressor and avoid designs that use excessive amounts of fans.
  
• Cooling capacity: Cooling capacity is the speed with which the heat is removed from the internal space to effectively cool the food and maintain high performance. The larger the cooling capacity, the more power it will consume.
  
• Load: What is stored in a fridge also affects its electricity consumption. If a fridge is full of food, it will use more electricity than one that is mostly empty. This is because a full fridge has to work harder to keep the same temperature as an empty one.
  
• Number of times its opened: How often a fridge is opened also affects its electricity consumption. If a fridge is opened at frequent intervals, it will use more electricity than one that is opened only occasionally. This is because a fridge that is opened all the time has to work harder to stay cold.
  
• Placement: The placement of your fridge can affect how much power it uses. If you place your fridge in a spot that is exposed to direct sunlight, it will use more energy to stay cool. You should also make sure there is enough space on either side of the fridge for air to circulate. If the fridge is blocking airflow, it will have to work harder to maintain a cool temperature and will use more power as a result.
  
• Temperature Control: The power consumption of a refrigerator is directly proportional to the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the fridge. The larger the difference, the more power is required to maintain that temperature. So, if you live in a warm climate and need to keep your fridge at a cooler temperature, it will use more power than if you lived in a colder climate and only needed to keep your fridge at a moderate temperature.

Also read – Best Refrigerators: Guides, Reviews & Comparisons

Power consumption of a refrigerator – How much electricity does a fridge use?

As already pointed out, the first step in understanding how much a refrigerator consumes is certainly the model’s energy label, which allows us to evaluate, with the same characteristics, the amount of energy absorbed by the appliance to perform its task.

In India, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is the agency that rates the energy efficiency of electrical appliances. The EER or energy efficiency rating of refrigerators is updated once in every 2 years.

Based on the data made available by BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency), we can draw up an information table valid for refrigerators of all types and sizes. Take a look below.

Therefore, by opting for a 5 star refrigerator it will be possible to spend less than half compared to a 1 star model. To make a precise calculation, of course, the cost of electricity units will also have to be taken into account.

Steps to calculate monthly power consumption of your refrigerator

1. Find the rated wattage of your refrigerator. This can usually be found on a plate/sticker on the side or bottom half of the appliance. If there is no plate/sticker, check the user manual of the the appliance.

2. Calculate the number of hours in a day that you expect to use your refrigerator.

3. Calculate the Watt-hours per day by multiplying the rated wattage with hours per day.

Rated Wattage x Hours Per Day = Watt-hours per day

4. Calculate the Kilowatt-Hours per day by dividing Watt-hours by 1,000

Watt-hours / 1000 = kWh per day

5. Multiply kWh per day by 30 days to get your monthly power consumption.

kWh per day x 30 = Monthly power consumption

6. Multiply the monthly power consumption with the cost per unit of electricity in your area to get the monthly electricity cost of your refrigerator.

Monthly power consumption x electricity cost per kWh = Monthly electricity cost of refrigerator

It is important to consider this result with an error margin of 10%-20% because there are many factors influencing refrigerator power consumption and we can’t account for them all in our study.

Whirlpool refrigerator power consumption

Samsung refrigerator power consumption

LG fridge power consumption

Saving money with the refrigerator: Some useful tips

Once the average annual consumption of your refrigerator has been established, to optimize its energy yield to the maximum, you can take some small measures that prove useful both for the proper functioning of the appliance and to reduce costs at the end of the month.

• Correct placement: As mentioned at the beginning, the electrical power absorbed by the refrigerator also depends on where it is placed. Since the external temperature can greatly affect the performance of the appliance, to reduce energy consumption and avoid waste it is advisable to place it in a cool and well-ventilated area of ​​the house, therefore away from direct heat sources (such as the oven, hob or a radiator) and where the sun does not beat continuously, so as to increase energy efficiency levels and pay less on the bill.
  
• Defrost food in the refrigerator: Another little trick to reduce the consumption of refrigerators is to defrost the foods removed from the freezer in the fridge instead of at room temperature. In this way, products that have a colder temperature than the one set will help to reduce the internal temperature of the appliance, which can therefore reduce its energy expenditure.
  
• Replace worn seals: Since the sealing gaskets on the doors of a refrigerator ensure good thermal insulation from the outside, if they deteriorate, a greater effort of the motor will be required to keep the internal temperature constant, with a consequent increase in energy consumption. Therefore, if you realize that your fridge consumes more than in the past, it will be advisable to replace the worn gaskets or consider buying a new, more efficient and state-of-the-art refrigerator.
  
• Set the right temperature: To ensure proper food storage and not waste electricity, it is important that the refrigerator operates at a temperature between 4 and 6 ° C, bearing in mind that each degree less than the recommended temperature requires an energy requirement of 5% more. In this regard, another expedient to ensure greater savings is to avoid filling shelves and compartments too much, in order to leave some empty space that allows cold air to circulate better and more evenly.
  
• Organize interior spaces in the best possible way: Often the same manufacturers give precise indications on how to organize the space inside the appliance, illustrating the division of the various compartments and indicating which types of food they are intended for.

By observing these tips to the letter, it will be possible to optimize the heat output of the appliance, putting it in the conditions to work better. Finally, consider that, for the purposes of greater energy savings, the fridge should only be opened when necessary and for the shortest possible time, therefore it would be advisable to organize it in a functional way, placing food and containers in easily accessible areas that do not force you to keep the door open to too much time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

A refrigerator is a household appliance that has become increasingly important in recent years. Not only does it keep food cold, but it also helps to preserve food and extend the life of certain items. In order to make sure you are getting the most out of your refrigerator, it’s important to be aware of how much power it consumes and what kind of energy efficiency rating it has. By understanding these things, you can take steps to ensure that your fridge is working as efficiently as possible and save yourself some money on your monthly energy bill.

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