The History of the Refrigerator
The standard refrigeration of food creates an enormous amount of greenhouse gas emissions from leakage of refrigerant as well as electrical power consumption. In 2019, these emissions accounted for 3.2% of the total refridgerator Uk annual territorial GHG emissions.
1959 was the first time fridges became common in British homes. Prior to that, the majority of households relied on cold slabs that were placed in pantries. They were inefficient in keeping a constant cool temperatures and triggered a lot of food spoilage.
The History of Fridges In The UK
Fridges are essential kitchen appliances that let us keep food and beverages fresh for a long time. They're also extremely energy efficient. It's easy to forget that refrigerators were once a luxury product. In fact it wasn't until 1950s that they started to really gain popularity. In the beginning, it was a very hot British summer that helped make them famous.
Before refrigerators were invented, people used insulated iceboxes in order to keep their food cool. They would harvest blocks of ice from lakes in the winter months, and keep them in storage throughout the warmer seasons. These Ice boxes were not ideal, however. These ice boxes were heavy and needed to be carried by an "ice man". In 1918, the first electric refrigerators were introduced to the market. However, it took a while before they were widely used in homes.
The energy efficiency of fridges has improved dramatically over time. They use less energy than they did a decade ago, and some refrigerators consume just 4 kW per day (equivalent to 170 W continuously). A lot of domestic refrigerators have an energy rating of A+.
Early in the 1950s manufacturers began introducing refrigerators that had separate compartments for freezers. They also began producing models with a chrome finish, which was extremely popular at the time. Since then, refrigerators are offered in many different shades and finishes. Pastel shades, such as turquoise and pink, were popular in the 1960s. Earth tone colors such as avocado green and almond became more popular in the 1980s and the 1970s. In the 1990s, stainless steel had become popular.
Fridges in the 1920s
Before refrigerators, people used wooden and insulated "ice boxes" to store fresh food and drinks. The iceman would deliver ice blocks to fill them, and they kept things cool all through the year. These ice boxes were generally located in kitchens of wealthy families.
In 1918 the first electric refrigerator was launched. It was atop the ice box that was already in a house. They were noisy, heavy and costly. The motor was located on top of the refrigerator cabinet. They were also known as monitor-tops. William C. Durant purchased the Mellowes Refrigerator Company in 1918 and established the Guardian Frigidaire to mass-produce refrigerators. Durant was in the direction of a design created by Cistercian monk Marcel Audiffren and Swiss engineer Albert Singrun. This was an absorption refrigerator that used sulfur dioxide as a refrigerant.
In the 1920s, these modern refrigerators were affordable for many homes. These refrigerators could hold more food and drinks and kept them cool for a longer time than the old ice boxes.
Refrigerator advertisements were imaginative and captivating, with promises of refreshing drinks and fashionable designs. The ads from the past are fascinating to read because they offer a glimpse into what life was like back then.
At the end of the 1920s, electric refrigeration was in nearly all homes. Electric utilities promoted the trend by offering rebates to those who purchased refrigerators. During the Great Depression, these appliances were considered vital for the survival of a home and their demand increased.
Fridges in 1950s
Refrigerators were not widely available in the 1920s, but were increasingly commonplace during the 1950s. By the late 1960s they were commonplace in all homes.
The majority of early fridges were utilitarian, with simple designs that matched the decor of the kitchen of the day. They were typically smaller fridges that sat on visible legs, with a wide variety of colors available (though they were mostly in the pastel range - think mint greens). During this time there were several companies manufacturing fridges including Whirlpool, Gibson, Hotpoint, and Tappan.
All of these brands were famous for their reliable, high-quality refrigerators. These brands also offered other types of appliances in their product line. For example, Crosley was a manufacturer of radios prior to their move into refrigerators in the 1940's and were famous for their compact refrigerators that could be tucked away in smaller areas.
In the 1950s, refrigerators were more elegant and were advertised to housewives as a status sign. They were designed to match the cabinets and walls of the kitchen, and were typically white and had chrome handles.
In the 1960s refrigerators began to transform into gadget-driven machines that came with things like separate freezer sections as well as ice cube makers. In addition, manufacturers began to use cheaper materials and were able offer them at much more affordable costs.
Fridges in the 1960s
In the 1960s, fridges were commonplace in households. Some families even had two refrigerators. In the 1960s the average American fridge freezer collection cost $600 (roughly $7000 in 2024 dollars). At the close of the decade, the price was down to $200.
The cheap fridge freezers was a huge innovation at the time. It revolutionized kitchens and changed the ways we stored our food. The fridge also increased the comfort of homes as it helped keep dairy and meat fresher for longer, allowing people to purchase bulk quantities and prepare meals ahead of time, and then put them away for later.
Early refrigerators used toxic gases like sulfur dioxide, ammonia and methyl chloride for refrigeration. This was dangerous for humans since these gasses leaked out of the refrigerators. In 1929 carbon dioxide was introduced as a safer way to cool food. Several people were poisoned and died.
It enabled manufacturers to design safer and more efficient refrigerators that could be used in homes. Certain refrigerators had an internal freezer that was accessible by opening the refrigerator door. These fridges were referred to as bi-door and were extremely popular in the 1950s and 1960s.
Refrigerators of the 1960s were more futuristic than those of today, featuring soft curves and an overall modern look that suggested the future of efficiency and freedom for the home. They still tended to be quite large, but the boxy look of refrigerators from the 1940s was beginning to fade.
Refrigerators Today
Modern fridge freezers come in a variety of colours, styles and finishes that can be tailored to suit your kitchen and personal taste. Some fridge freezers come with smart features that connect to Wi-Fi. This lets you quickly customize the settings. Others even have an inbuilt camera that allows you to check inside your refrigerator.
French door models have taken over the market, as consumers want modern looks and features such as water or ice dispensers, flex drawers and in some cases, a smart display. A lot of these appliances are classified as A B, A or even A+ for energy efficiency, following the overhaul of the labelling system that is mandatory in UK appliances.
This Hotpoint model is a favorite due to its elegant design. It comes with a clever UVNano self-sterilizing technology that kills bacteria in the fridge freezer cheap. It also has two salad drawers with adjustable humidity sliders. It's also spacious with plenty of storage room for bottles and jars and a generous storage box inside the fridge door.
Find fridges that have the eco-friendly ICE+ feature that uses less energy. Alternately, you could save even more by choosing a model that has an automatic ice maker that creates a continuous supply of ice that's ready to use in the morning.
The most effective thing you can do to protect the environment is to purchase refrigerators that have an energy efficiency rating of either A or A+. When you're choosing a best fridge uk, it's recommended to include the annual electricity consumption of the fridge in your household budget. It is important to remember that the world is not one where we can afford to take electricity for granted. Everyone should have access to reliable, affordable energy to lead a healthy, comfortable life and preserve our planet.