Eco-Refrigerator: A Commodity for Sustainable Consumption

Sustainable consumption is an integral part of sustainable development. However, to promote sustainable consumption, one needs to look at aspect to sustainable production also. An excellent example of this implicit interlinkage is seen in refrigerator. It has been witnessed, refrigerator have become an inseparable part of the lives of the millions of people round the globe. Rapid communication and increasing access to commodities plus changes in life style have spurred the need to stock food and beverage in refrigerator than ever before. Storage and transportation of medicines is another important area of usage

It has been known for many hundreds of years that a reduction in temperature will slow down the processes of decay and spoilage in many foods. The purpose of a freezer is to stop bacteria completely by freezing them solid. We would freeze everything if we could, but some foods change dramatically when we freeze them – lettuce, strawberries, milk and egg are just a few of the foods that don’t freeze well.

Food occupies the first position in the hierarchical needs of man. Ignorance of many basic facts relating to the storage of food is still widespread. However when purchasing power is adequate to have good food, various forms of imbalance occur due to lack of knowledge.

The refrigerator is one of those miracles of modern living that totally change life. Prior to refrigeration, the only way to preserve meat was to salt it, and iced beverages is the summer were a real luxury (Brain, 1993). The cool temperature in the refrigerator slows down the enzymes activity and bacterial reproduction in the food. This preserve food quality, taste, texture and there by keeps food safer for longer time (Kumar, 2003).

Reduction in humidity and temperature restricts the growth of bacteria. The air inside the refrigerator is extremely dry and the food will quickly dry out and lose quality and become unappetizing in a short period of time, if not covered. There are many chemical reaction which can contributes to the spoilage of foods. These includes oxidation reaction which cause rancidity of oils and fats and lose colour in vegetables; and hydrolysis, which caused the breakdown of fat, pectin’s and starches. Therefore if spoilage of a food were due solely to chemical reaction, a reduction in temperature from 20⁰C to 10⁰C would double its storage life.

Chilling is obtained & maintained by means of ice or mechanical refrigeration. Basically the refrigerator is an insulated box that is equipped with a cooling unit and control necessary to maintain the chilled food storage comportment.

The ANSI (American National Standard Institute) defined that “A household refrigerator is a cabinet or any part of which is designed for refrigerated storage of food at temperature above 32°f (0°C), which has a source of refrigeration and which is intended for household use. It may include a compartment for freezing and storage of ice and short term storage of food” (Ehrenkranz & Inman, 1973).

The preferred temperature of the refrigerator is some what between 35 and 38⁰f (1.7 to 3.3⁰C). Thermometer should be used to check the temperature of the refrigerator crisper and shelves. The coldest part of your refrigerator is not the place to store fragile food like lettuces and delicate fruits. In any refrigerator, the top shelf is the coldest spot, lettuces develop ice crystals there, so make sure to store them on a lower shelf. (Erazo, 2002).

Foods that need refrigeration should be placed in refrigerator within two hours after eating to help prevent bacteria growth. “Our research indicates that consumers shopping for new refrigerators look for one that cools food efficiently, maintain temperature evenly, minimizes spoilage and is whisper-quiet.” Conventional refrigerators cool air up and forward from the back of the refrigerator, but food items stored near the front and on door shelves may not receive proper air circulation. Hence, they may not be as cold as items in the back of the refrigerator. However, ‘LG’s patented door cooling technology, in its refrigerators offer an ideal cooling solution to beat such problems (Kumar, 2003).

The factors which consumers should consider before purchasing refrigerators are :

1. The technology : That is whether they want frost free, bio-fresh or conventional refrigerator.
2. The efficiency of cooling.
3. The features are however the important characteristics for which the consumer look for like the kind of insulating material used in refrigerator like pu foam, maxi insulation and many other. The another unique feature for which consumer look for is door finish which prevent the refrigerator from rusting ranges form powder coating to embosed finish. The powdered finish consist of five layers rust protection system it includes baked powder. Paint layer, Passivation chemical coat, zinc phosphate coating & CRCA sheet. Another is vinyl clad, leather finish door, VCM, powder coated, PCM and so on. The shelves should be strong and durable so that they can withstand heavy load without sagging which can be made of strong crystal wire, SAN (Styrene Acrylo Nitrile), reinforced steel wire shelves, spill proof tampered glass shelves etc.
4. Cost of refrigerator and market trend.
5. The aesthetics which are increasing importance for consumer, thereafter individual brand preference come in.

When buying a refrigerator, look for the total capacity and special storage capacity. For a family of three or less, a 19 cubic feet refrigerator should be enough. Refrigerator operates constantly and energy cost can add up, so look for the lowest possible energy guide average annual costs (Wiley, 2002). To quote some, Samsung India has launched bio-fresh series which have a stylish, luxurious design and all the models come with bigger and more spacious bio-ceramic vegetable box which keeps fruits & vegetables fresh, multipurpose drawer, Bio-humidity controller and bio-deodorizer which remove bad smell, noxious various & harmful gasses like ethylene emitted by vegetables this leads to tastier & odour free food. Crystal shelves, embossed finish and higher efficiency HCFC free compressor to protect environment and save energy. Samsung side by side is the only worlds first refrigerator based on twin cooling technology. The advantage of this system is more efficient cooling and enhanced performance, no mixing of odour and contamination and also maintain maximum humidity level & save energy (Erazo, 2002).

The efficiency of any refrigeration cycle is rated according to coefficient of performance. The C.O.P. is the ratio of the refrigeration effect produced in the evaporator to the work done in the compressor in order to bring about refrigeration effect.

All the early refrigerants like methyl chloride, sulphur di-oxide, carbon dioxide and ammonia suffered from one or more disadvantage like flammability, toxicity etc, which restrict their general use. But now a days most common technology recommended in refrigerator is “Hydrocarbon Technology” which protect ozon layer and environment. (Gerster, 1997)

Hydrocarbons has zero ozone depleting potential (ODP) and a negligible global warming. Their efficiency is highly better than other leading alternative refrigerants and they are fully compatible lubricating oils comentionally used with CFC 12. Other advantage of hydrocarbon technology are its, non ozone depletion, non-global warming, is energy saving, extraordinary reliability, virtually no refrigerant loses and technically simple to adopt (Devotte, 1998).

During ‘Earth Summit’ in June 1992, when most of the countries had adopted “Agenda Plan for Action”. One of the very important segments of this plan was concerned with environment. Manufacturing process of our useful products and its effects on environment are the crucial points those are also considered in this very important segment. So “Eco-labels” were launched under German blue eco-lebel scheme on eco-freezers which are exploited by many big companies like Wash and Semens (Mathur, 1998).

What is Eco-fridge ? the question is very common now a days. It is a fridge with hydrocarbon technology which is good for both ozone layer and environment. CFC and HFC gases contain harmful airozoles, foam agents which continuously deplete the ozone layer and hence increase cancer causing rays. Many developed countries have started the use of CFC in Refrigerator & AC’s (Fight for Right, 1999).

For the sake of environment protection Switzerland, 1991 had started “Global Environment fund” After this in year 1992, “Swiss Agency for Development and Corporation” had started “Eco-Fridge Project” in India. Therefore the spirit behind Eco-refrigeration is nothing but a true commitment to environment.

Matter Courtesy: Ms. Indu Kararia. Master’s Thesis entitled: “A Comparative Study on Techno Economic Feasibility of Conventional and Eco – Friendly Refrigerator”. 2003. Guided by: Ms. Seema Dwivedi. Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Family Resource Management, College of Home Sc., MPUAT, Udaipur.

References:

1. Brain, M. (1993) : How Regrigeraotr Work, Website http. : // www. fao. org. /ag /ags /agsm /sada /asia /DOCS /DOC /Rajorbia 1.doc.
2. Devotta, S. (1998) : Eco-fridge : The Problems and Promises in India. A report on Eco-fridge. Pg. 40.
3. Ehrenkranz, F. and Inman, L. L. (1973): Household Equipment, Harper and raw publisher London: 11
4. Erazo, K. (2002): Mechanism of Regrigerator, Website http://www.ecosite.co.UK.new search. htm – 65 K.
5. Fight for Right (1999) : Consumer Awareness General, Published by Maruti Seva Samiti.
6. Gerster, L. (1997) : Ecofrig : The Indian Dimension, Eco Frig. Make the Right choice, now! Pg. 17-18
7. Kumar, S. (2003) Chill – A focus on refrigerator, Time special report, 16 May, Pg. 6,7.
8. Mathur, A. (1998) : Eco-fridge Problems and Promises. A report on Eco-fridge, Pg. 44,43.
9. Wiley, A. (2002) : Training Workshop on sustainable consumption and Eco-fridge. CUTS. Jaipur.