Energy guzzling Beer Fridges

I read an article by Chris deMuth Jr. on Seeking Alpha pointing out the unanticipated consequences of some Energy Star programs, in this case leading to the creation of energy guzzling beer fridges.

Here’s how.

Federal agencies regulate and subsidize products based on the Energy Star ratings system.

Across the country, people who had older, more fuel-intensive refrigerators took advantage of subsidies to buy shiny new Energy Star refrigerators and install them in their kitchens. Then, they took their old ones, placed them in unairconditioned garages and filled them with beer. The massive energy output necessary to power inefficient refrigerators in unairconditioned garages completely swamps other impacts of the subsidies. Following the energy savings efforts, energy used to power refrigerators spiked and then flattened out at a much higher level.

The solution, it would seem to me, is not to allow people to move old fridges into unairconditioned garages, but to insist that buyers of new fridges create a pub-shed in their gardens. Much better all round.

Source: www.readersheds.co.uk

And this 400 sf house is the ideal location for Marblehead’s first.

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Andrew Oliver is a Realtor with Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated

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