Can you recognize that the igloo in this picture was built from 322 fridges in Hamburg?   It is titled “Wastefulness is the biggest source of Energy”. The picture was taken by Moritz Bappert. The igloo is an art project by Berlin-based artist Ralf Schmerberg and is supported by an energy provider.

The artist vividly used  a huge electricity meter to demonstrate how much energy could be saved if all of the old fridges were replaced with modern ones. The loud message sent is that “Waste is the biggest resource.”  According to the Canadian Government, the refrigerator is the 3rd heaviest consumer of power amongst household appliances.  If you have an old fridge, it is time to buy a new energy efficient fridge.

Tips to buy a new fridge:

• Look for the ENERGY STAR symbol
• The lowest EnerGuide energy consumption rating
• An “Energy Save” switch that controls heating coils in the cabinet (they prevent condensation in humid weather, but you should turn them off when the air is dry)
• Separate temperature controls that regulate the inside temperature of the refrigerator and freezer compartments
• Easy-rolling wheels, which make cleaning easier, especially for vacuuming the condenser coils regularly in order to maximize efficiency and compressor life