Energy Efficient RefrigerationRefrigeration, if done using modern electric units, is the single largest user of electricity on the homestead. Sadly, the majority of that energy is wasted because the design is optimized for low cost, instead of high efficiency. Even the so called high efficiency refrigerators available at retail appliance stores are "high" relative only to the even lower efficiency models they are compared to. Refrigerators designed for use with "alternative energy," often solar, do exist, but the cooling capacity of these units are generally much less than their "on-grid" counterparts. In particular Sun Frost is a popular make. They claim a typical monthly energy usage of just 20 KWH, as compared to the standard refrigerator usage of some 110 KWH. In addition to cooling your food, the $2400 price tag might leave you cold as well! Propane powered refrigerators are another option. These units utilize a chemical cycle known as "absorbtion refrigeration." The net energy efficiency may or may not be that much better than compressor driven refrigeration, but the net savings in the electrical power system for an off-grid homestead might make all the difference. The price of a propane refrigerator is about the same as a Sun Frost unit. Sadly, the real problem with the standard retail refrigerator is a simple one: not enough insulation. There are a number of other design issues as well, like the electric defroster, the electric heater in the door seal, and the location of the (hot) compressor in the bottom of the cabinet where it tends to heat the refrigerator. But the overwhelming problem is the small thickness of insulation. Heat loss through insulation accounts for 80% of the total energy usage of a typical refrigerator. Nothing more than increased insulation has the potential to cut energy usage by a factor of four or five. How to do that is the subject of an upcoming design manual. |
Busy Persons Guide to Preserving Food |
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This book provides a detailed treatment of
every food preservation technique I've ever heard of. For the
veteran canner, this might not inform, but for most of us, this
book will be referred to more than once. |
Developing a Low Cost Family Food Storage Plan |
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This is the best beginning stocker's book that
we've found. Surveyed are all the traditional preserving
techniques as well as a run-down on all the latest but the focus
of the book is on planning and storage, not canning and drying.
The author discusses food sources, different pricing and quality
of foods and provides a candid and readable look at the task of
putting away food for a family without breaking the bank. |
