this post was submitted on 11 Jan 2025
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Curious if this would have any noticeable energy savings. Basically thinking of taking old semi-disposable plastic containers (the ones that like deli meat, butter, etc come in), freezing them outdoors, and letting them defrost (absorb heat) in the fridge/freezer. Basically back to the "ice box" model.

Anybody doing that and/or have any results to share? Mostly curious if it would be worth the effort.

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[–] jol@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Fridges are some of the most efficient appliances in the home but I always think it's funny that in the winter we keep the house warm and the fridge cold, when we could just harness the cold from outside.

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Lol, yeah. Though the exhaust heat from the refrigerator does warm the house (good in winter, not good in the summer).

Definitely have had the thought about a thermostat controlled vent that would utilize outdoor air when the temperature permits. Might be one of those ideas that's nice but impractical.

[–] jol@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 2 months ago

I think the next level of after heat pumps is complete heat management. Waste heat from kitchen exhaust? Heat pump. Hot water down the drain? Heat pump.

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

You keep your house warm? I love winter because I can keep it cold.

[–] jol@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I assume you can guess that my winter is likely colder than yours then.

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I assume you can guess that my comment was being silly.

[–] jol@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 months ago

Actually I wasn't sure. Hard to tell on the Internet. Some people really forget others exist who live in different circunstances than themselves.

[–] wildflowertea@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 months ago

Earth is a big place with different types of climates. I can imagine some people not only want but need to warm their homes.

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I always have jugs of ice in the freezer, if I use one during the cold of the winter I will refreeze it outside before putting it back into the fridge.

I also store food outside in the snow. I usually keep a large ice chest outside in the winter and use that for overflow food.

[–] zhunk 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

What do you use jugs of ice for?

I freeze gallons of water to put in a cooler on camping trips, but idk what I would do with them in the winter.

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 months ago

I use them in my ice chest when bring home groceries from the city. Even in the winter here it will be in the teens or twenties at night it can get into the 50s during the day.