Domestic Refrigerators: Field Studies and Energy Efficiency Improvement

591-600The paper reports the studies on evaluation of energy indices of domestic refrigerators of 165 L capacity in India. The specific energy consumption varies between 3.23 and 4.19 kWh/y/L for single door manual defrost units and between 3.84 and 4.78 kWh/y/L for double door auto defrost units. The major technical areas in a modernization programme are the use of alternatives to HCFC 22, the introduction of more efficient controls and better insulation. Though energy efficient and eco-friendly domestic refrigerators are cost-effective, forces driving technology upgradation such as energy labeling, minimum efficiency standards and incentives to industries are essential to bring about renovation in the domestic refrigerator technology