zerowaste

1417 readers

5 users here now

Discussing ways to reduce waste and build community!

Celebrate thrift as a virtue, talk about creative ways to make do, or show off how you reused something!

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

Zero-wasting the cold: Does anyone ever freeze blocks of ice outside in the winter and let them defrost in the fridge/freezer? (dubvee.org)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

17 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week 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.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 week 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.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week 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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week 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.