The History of the Refrigerator
The conventional refrigeration of food creates an enormous amount of greenhouse gas emissions due to leakage of refrigerant as well as the use of electricity. In 2019, these emissions accounted for 3.2 percent of the total UK annual territorial GHG emissions.
The summer of 1959 was the first time that fridges became a staple in British homes. Prior to that, the majority of households relied on cold slabs in pantries. They were inefficient and could not maintain the same temperature.
The History of Fridges in the refridgerator uk (visit website)
Refrigerators are among the most essential kitchen appliances that allow us to keep food and drinks fresh for a few days at a time. They are also extremely efficient in energy use. It's easy to forget that refrigerators were once a luxurious product. It wasn't until the 1950s that they began to gain popularity. It was a very hot British summer that led to their popularity.
Before refrigerators were invented, people would use cold ice boxes that were insulated to keep their foods cool. In winter, they would accumulate blocks of ice on lakes and store them for warmer months. However, these ice boxes weren't ideal. They were carried around by an 'ice man' and were heavy. In 1918 the first electric refrigerators were released to the market. But, it took a while before they became common in homes.
The efficiency of fridges has increased dramatically over the years. They consume less energy than they did 10 years ago. Some fridges use only 4 kW*h per day (equivalent of 170 W continuous). Many domestic refrigerators come with an A+ energy rating.
In the early 1950s manufacturers introduced refrigerators with freezer compartments that were separate. They also began to produce models with a chrome-colored finish, which was quite popular at the time. Since then, refrigerators have been available in a variety of colours and finishes. Pastel shades, such as turquoise and pink, were popular in the 1960s. Earth tone colors, such as almond and avocado green became more popular in the 1970s and the 1980s. In the 1990s stainless steel was beginning to take over.
Fridges in the 1920s
Before fridges people made use of wooden "ice boxes" to keep food and drinks fresh. Ice man would deliver blocks of ice to fill them and they'd keep the temperature cool throughout the year. These ice boxes could be found in the posh kitchens.
The first electric refrigerator was first introduced in 1918 and was placed on top of the current Ice box. They were noisy, heavy and expensive. The motor was on the top of the refrigerator cabinet. They were also known as monitor-tops. William C. Durant bought out the Mellowes refrigerator company in 1918 and set the Guardian Frigidaire company to mass make refrigerators. Durant was influenced by a design by Cistercian Monk Marcel Audiffren, and Swiss Engineer Albert Singrun. It was a refrigerator that absorbed sulfur dioxide.
In the 1920s, these modern refrigerators were affordable for a lot of homes. These refrigerators were able to store much more food and drinks and kept them cool for a longer time than the older ice boxes.
Refrigerator advertising was creative, captivating and full of promises of refreshing drinks and chic designs. The ads from the past are fascinating to read as they give us a glimpse of the lifestyle of the time.
By the end the 1920s, refrigerators with electric power were commonplace in homes. Electric utilities helped promote this trend by offering discounts on their bills to those who bought refrigerators. During the Great Depression, these appliances were considered essential to home survival and their popularity increased.
Fridges in 1950s
Fridges were still relatively rare in the 1920s, but were increasingly commonplace during the 1950s. By the late 1960's they were a common sight in the majority of homes (although it is worth noting that you would not have found a fridge in every household during the past, since it was a high-cost luxury for a lot of people).
The majority of early fridges were very utilitarian appliances with simple designs that matched the kitchen decor of the day. They were usually smaller refrigerators that were mounted on legs and had a variety of colors available (though most were in the pastel range - think mint greens). During this period there were a lot of companies manufacturing fridges that included Whirlpool (who had just emerged as a leading brand), Gibson, Hotpoint and Tappan.
These brands were all known for their reliable and high-quality refrigerators. These brands also offered other types of appliances in their product line. For instance, Crosley was a manufacturer of radios before moving into refrigerators in the 1940's and were famous for their small refrigerators that fit well into smaller spaces.
In the 1950s, refrigerators became more elegant and were advertised to women who were housewives to be a status symbol. They were designed in a way that matched the cabinets and the walls of the kitchen, and were typically white with chrome handles.
In the 1960s, refrigerators began transform into gadgets that included separate freezer sections as well as ice-cube makers. In addition manufacturers began using cheaper materials and were able offer these appliances at much lower costs.
Fridges in the 1960s
In the 1960s, fridges were a necessity in a lot of households. Some families even had two refrigerators. They were costly for a while - in America the average fridge cost $600 (that's approximately $7000 in 2024 dollars) however by the end of the 60s, they were down to $200.
The refrigerator was a significant technological advancement at the time, transforming kitchens and transforming the way we stored food. The fridge also boosted the comfort of homes as it made meat and dairy fresher for longer, which allowed people to buy in bulk and cook meals ahead of time, and then store them for later.
Early fridges used toxic gases such as ammonia, methyl chloride, and sulfur dioxide to cool food, but this was hazardous for humans since these gases were released from refrigerators. Many people died of poisoning and it was only in 1929 that a safer method of cooling food using carbon dioxide, was invented.
This means that manufacturers were able to create safer and more efficient refrigerators for use in homes, with certain refrigerators featuring an internal freezer compartment that was accessed by opening the refrigerator door. These were referred to as bi-door refrigerators, and were extremely popular during the 1950s and 60s.
Fridges in the 1960s were more futuristic than those of today, featuring soft curves and a sleek look that suggested an era of convenience and domestic freedom. The refrigerators were still large however the boxy style of the 1940s was fading.
Refrigerators Today
Modern fridge freezers are available in a variety of colors, styles and finishes that can be tailored to fit your kitchen and personal taste. Some offer intelligent features that connect to Wi-Fi, giving you a speedy way to customize the settings, and some include cameras for monitoring your fridge freezer for sale from anywhere.
French door models are now dominating the market, as consumers are looking for modern designs and features like water or ice dispensers and flex drawers. In some cases a smart screen. A lot of these appliances are classified as A B, C or even A+ for energy efficiency after the revamping of the labelling system that is mandatory in UK appliances.
This Hotpoint model is well-loved for its sleek design. It comes with a clever UVNano self-sterilising technology that kills bacteria in the fridge freezer near me. It also has two salad drawers that have adjustable humidity sliders. It's also large with plenty of storage space for bottles and jars as well as a spacious storage box inside the fridge door.
Find fridges that have the green ICE+ feature that uses less energy. You can 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.
Buying a fridge that's A or A+ in energy efficiency is one of the most beneficial things you can do for the environment. When selecting a refrigerator it's an ideal idea to include the annual power consumption of the cheapest fridge freezers uk in your household budget. It is important to remember that the world is not a place where we can afford to take energy for granted. Everyone deserves access to reliable, affordable energy to lead a healthy, comfortable life and safeguard our planet.