The History of the Refrigerator
The conventional refrigeration of foods produces significant greenhouse gas emissions due to leakage of refrigerant and the use of electricity. In 2019 the emissions from these sources accounted for 3.2 percent of the total refridgerator uk annual territorial GHG emissions.
Fridges didn't become commonplace in British homes until the summer of 1959. Prior to this, most households relied on cold slabs in their pantries. These were inefficient and did not keep a constant temperature.
The History of Fridges In The UK
Refrigerators are among the most essential kitchen appliances that allow us to keep food and drinks fresh for a few days at one time. They're also extremely energy efficient. It's easy to forget that fridges were once considered luxury, but. It wasn't really until the 1950s that they began to become popular. But even then it took a very hot summer for them to really become popular in the UK.
Before refrigerators were invented, people used insulated iceboxes to keep their food cool. In winter, they would collect blocks of ice on lakes and store them for warmer months. However, these ice boxes were not ideal. They required to be carried by an 'ice man' and were heavy. The first refrigerators with electric technology came into the market in 1918, but it was some time before they became commonplace in homes.
The efficiency of fridges has improved significantly over time. They use less energy than they did ten years ago. Some fridges use only 4 kW*h a day (equivalent of 170 W continuous). A majority of refrigerators in the US have an A+ energy rating.
In the early 1950s manufacturers introduced refrigerators with separate freezer compartments. They also started producing models with a chrome-colored finish, which was extremely popular at the time. Since then, refrigerators are offered in many different colors and finishes. In the 1960s, pastel shades like pink and turquoise were extremely popular. Earth tone colors, like almond and avocado green, were becoming more popular in the 1970s and the 1980s. In the 90s stainless steel was beginning to dominate.
Fridges in the 1920s
Before refrigerators were invented the people would use wooden "ice boxes" to keep food and drinks fresh. Icemen would bring blocks of ice to fill them and they'd keep the temperature cool all year round. Ice boxes were typically found in kitchens of well-off households.
The first electric refrigerator was launched in 1918 and was positioned on top of the home's current ice box. They were noisy, heavy and costly. The motor was situated on top of the refrigerator cabinet. They were also referred to as monitor-tops. William C. Durant purchased the Mellowes Refrigerator Company in 1918 and established the Guardian Frigidaire to mass-produce refrigerators. Durant was inspired by a design developed by Cistercian monk Marcel Audiffren and Swiss engineer Albert Singrun. It was an absorption refrigerator that used sulfur dioxide as a refrigerant.
In the 1920s, these new refrigerators became affordable to many homes. They could accommodate more food and drinks and kept it cooler for longer than old ice boxes.
The advertisements on refrigerators were imaginative attractive, appealing and full of promises about ice-cold drinks and chic designs. These ads from the past are fascinating to read as they give us a glimpse of the lifestyle of the time.
At the close of the 1920s, electric refrigeration was almost everywhere in homes. Electric utilities pushed the development by offering rebates to those who bought refrigerators. The popularity of these appliances was even greater during the Great Depression when they were considered essential for home survival.
Fridges in the 1950s
Fridges became more common in the 1950s. They were not common in the 1920s. By the late 1960's they were found in most homes (although it is worth noting that you wouldn't have seen a fridge in every household in the past, since it was a high-cost luxury for many).
The majority of fridges from the early days were utilitarian and had simple designs that matched the kitchen decor of the day. They were usually smaller fridges that were mounted on legs and had a variety of colors available (though the majority were in the pastels - think mint greens). At the time, there were a number of fridge manufacturers, including Whirlpool (who had recently emerged as a top brand), Gibson, Hotpoint and Tappan.
These brands were all renowned for their high-quality and reliable refrigerators. They also diversified their product lines, offering other kinds of appliances for homes. For instance, Crosley was a manufacturer of radios prior to their move into refrigerators in the 1940's. They were known for their compact refrigerators that could be tucked away in smaller spaces.
In the 1950's, refrigerators grew more stylish and were marketed as an image of status for housewives. They were designed to match cabinets and walls in the kitchen, and were generally white and had chrome handles.
In the 1960s refrigerators began to transform into gadget-driven appliances that included things like separate freezer uk sections and ice cube makers. Manufacturers also began to use less expensive materials, which allowed them to offer their products at a lower cost.
Fridges in 1960s
The fridge was a necessity in most households in the 1960s, with a lot of families even having two refrigerators. In the 1960s, the average American refrigerator cost $600 (roughly $7000 in 2024 dollars). At the close of the decade, prices had dropped to around $200.
The refrigerator was a significant technological advancement at the time, transforming kitchens and changing the way we stored food. The cheap fridge freezers uk also increased home comfort as it helped keep meat and dairy fresher longer, allowing people to buy fridge uk in bulk and prepare meals ahead of time and then keep them in the fridge for later.
Early fridges used harmful gases like ammonia, methyl chloride and sulfur dioxide for refrigeration but this was hazardous for humans because these gases leaked from the refrigerators. A number of people died from poisoning, and it was only in 1929 that a more secure method for cooling food, using carbon dioxide, was created.
It allowed manufacturers to build safer and more efficient refrigerators that could be used in homes. Some refrigerators had an internal freezer that was accessible by opening the refrigerator door. These were known as bi-door refrigerators and were very popular in the 1950s and 60s.
The 1960s refrigerators were sleeker and more modern. They had soft curves, and a sleek style that suggested a time of efficiency and home freedom. The refrigerators were still big but the boxy look of the 1940s was beginning to fade.
Fridges Today
Modern fridge freezers come in a variety of colors, styles and finishes that can be tailored to suit your kitchen and personal taste. Certain fridge freezers feature intelligent features that connect to Wi-Fi. This lets you quickly adjust the settings. Some even come with an integrated camera to look inside the refrigerator.
French door models are now dominating the market, as people want modern looks and features like dispensers for water or ice as well as flex drawers, and in some cases a smart screen. Many are also rated A, B or A+ in energy efficiency ratings following a shake-up of the mandatory labelling scheme for UK appliances.
We are awestruck by this Hotpoint model for its sleek design, which features a clever UVNano technology that auto-sterilizes the fridge to kill bacteria and two salad drawers with adjustable humidity sliders. It's also spacious with plenty of storage space for jars and bottles as well as a spacious utility box in 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 which creates a continuous supply of ice that is ready to use in the morning.
A fridge that's A or A+ in terms of energy efficiency is one of the most beneficial actions you can take to protect the environment. It's important to take into consideration the fridge freezer best buy's annual consumption of electricity as a part of your household budget when you're deciding on an appliance. 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 preserve our planet.