The History of the Refrigerator
The conventional refrigeration of food produces a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions from leakage of refrigerant and the use of electricity. In 2019 the emissions from these sources accounted for 3.2% of the total UK annual territorial GHG emissions.
The summer of 1959 was the first time fridges became common in British homes. Before that, the majority of households relied on cold slabs that were placed in pantries. They were inefficient in keeping an even temperature and led to a lot of food spoilage.
The History of Fridges in the UK
Fridges are one of the most essential kitchen appliances, allowing us to keep food and drinks fresh for days at an time. They're also extremely energy efficient. It's easy, though, to forget that refrigerators were once a luxurious item. It wasn't until the 1950s that they began to gain popularity. However, even before that, it took a very hot summer for them to become popular in the refridgerator uk - minecraftathome.Com -.
Before refrigerators were invented people would use insulated ice boxes to keep their foods cool. In the winter they would accumulate blocks of ice on lakes and store them for the warmer months. However, these ice boxes weren't ideal. They required to be carried by an 'ice man', and they were very heavy. The first refrigerators with electric technology came into the market in 1918, but it was a while before they were widely used in homes.
Today, fridges are a lot more energy efficient than they were a decade ago. They use less energy than they used to a decade ago, and some refrigerators consume less than 4 kW per day (equivalent to 170 W continuous). A majority of refrigerators in the US have an A+ energy rating.
In the early 1950s manufacturers introduced fridges with separate freezer compartments. They also began to produce models with a chrome finish, which was extremely popular at the time. Since then, refrigerators have been available in a variety of colors and finishes. In the 1960s, pastel colors like turquoise and pink were very popular. Earth tone colors like avocado green and almond became more popular in the 1980s and the 1970s. In the 1990s stainless steel started to take over.
Fridges in the 1920s
Before fridges the people would use wooden "ice boxes" to keep food and drinks fresh. The ice man would deliver ice blocks to fill them up, and they kept things cool all through the year. Ice boxes can be found in the posh kitchens.
In 1918 the first electric refrigerator was introduced. It sat atop of the ice box that was already in a house. They were noisy, bulky and expensive. They were also called monitor-tops because of their motor that was located on the top of the refrigerator cabinet. William C. Durant bought out the Mellowes refrigerator company in 1918 and set up the Guardian Frigidaire company 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, using sulfur dioxide as a refrigerant.
In the 1920s, these modern refrigerators were reasonably priced for many homes. The new refrigerators could store more food and drinks and kept them cooler for a longer period of time than the old ice boxes.
Advertising on refrigerators was imaginative appealing, captivating and full of promises about ice-cold drinks and chic designs. Vintage ads are interesting to read as they give us a glimpse of the world of the day.
By the end the 1920s, electric refrigerators were in almost all homes. Electric utilities helped promote this trend by offering discounts on their bills to customers who bought refrigerators. The popularity of refrigerators grew even faster during the Great Depression when they were considered vital to the survival of the home.
Fridges in the 1950s
Refrigerators became more popular in the 1950s. They were still uncommon in the 1920s. By the late 1960s, they were common in most homes.
Early refrigerators were utilitarian, simple appliances that were matched to the decor of the kitchen. The fridges were usually smaller and were mounted on legs. They were available in a range of colors (though the majority were pastels such as mint). In the era of refrigeration there were several companies making refrigerators such as Whirlpool, Gibson, Hotpoint and Tappan.
These brands were known for their reliable and high-quality refrigerators. They also expanded their product ranges, offering other types of home appliances. Crosley, for example was initially a radio manufacturer before launching refrigerators in 1940. They were renowned for their compact fridges that fit well in small spaces.
In the 1950s, refrigerators were more stylish and were marketed to women as a status symbol. They were designed to match the cabinets and walls in the kitchen, and were usually white with chrome handles.
In the 1960s, refrigerators began transform into gadgets that included separate freezer sections and ice-cube makers. Manufacturers also began to use cheaper materials, allowing them to sell their products at lower costs.
Fridges in the 1960s
In the 1960s, refrigerators were a necessity in a lot of households. Some families even had two refrigerators. They were expensive for a while, in America the average fridge cost on average $600 (that's about $7000 in 2024 dollars) - but at the end of the 60s, they were only $200.
The fridge was a huge technological advancement at the time. It transformed kitchens and altered the way we stored our food. The fridge also increased home comfort since it helped keep dairy and meat fresher for longer, allowing people to purchase bulk quantities and cook meals in advance and put them away for later.
The first refrigerators were made of poisonous gases like sulfur dioxide, ammonia and methyl chloride to cool food. This was dangerous for humans as these gases were released from refrigerators. Several people died from poisoning, and it wasn't until in 1929 that a safer method of cooling food, using carbon dioxide, was developed.
This meant that manufacturers were able to create safer and more efficient refrigerators that could be used in homes, with some refrigerators having an internal freezer compartment accessible by opening the refrigerator door. These were known as bi-door refrigerators and were popular in the 1950s and 1960s.
The refrigerators of the 1960s were more futuristic than those of today, featuring soft curves and an overall elegant design that reflected the future of efficiency and domestic freedom. They still tended to be fairly large but the boxy look of refrigerators in the 1940s was beginning to fade.
Fridges Today
Today's buy fridge freezers freezers come in a variety of styles, colours and finishes to match your individual tastes and kitchen decors. Some fridge freezers come with smart features that are connected to Wi-Fi. This lets you quickly customize the settings. Some even come with an integrated camera to look inside your refrigerator.
French door models dominate the market, as consumers demand modern features and designs like dispensers for water or ice and flex drawers. In some cases smart screens are included. Many of these appliances are rated as A, B or even A+ for energy efficiency following the overhaul of the labelling system that is mandatory in refridgerators uk appliances.
We love this Hotpoint model for its sleek design, which includes an innovative UVNano technology that self-sterilizes the fridge to kill germs and a pair of salad drawers with adjustable humidity sliders. It's also spacious, with plenty of storage room for bottles and jars as well as a spacious utility box in the fridge door.
Find fridges that have the eco-friendly ICE+ feature that uses less energy. Alternately, you can save even more money by opting for a model with an automatic ice maker, which creates a continuous supply of ice that is ready to use in the morning.
The best fridges uk option to help the environment is to purchase fridges with an energy efficiency rating of A or A+. It's also a good idea to consider the fridge's annual electricity usage as part of your budget for household appliances when deciding on a new appliance. It is crucial to remember that we cannot afford to take electricity for granted. Everyone deserves to have access to affordable, reliable and abundant electricity to lead a healthy lifestyle, be comfortable, and help protect the earth.