Time: Your Icemaker Is Killing the Earth
This just in, courtesy of Time Magazine: Mother Gaia is dying and your ice maker is the perp. Continue churning out ice with your automated cube-maker, and you'll be contributing to the plight of the 50 million refugees the United Nations insists anthropogenic global warming has caused will cause by 2020.
Time took a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology showing significant energy use by ice makers and ran with it. Want to save the Earth?" the article asked. "Easy, just buy a couple of ice trays." The article goes on to educate "laypeople" (the actual phrase used) on the havoc their refrigerators are wreaking on the planet (h/t Moonbattery).
According to the just-released findings, the average ice maker in the average fridge increases energy consumption by 12% to 20%—a whole lot of juice for an appliance that is in operation 24 hours a day from the moment you first plug it in till the moment you replace it a decade or more later. The reason that number was so unexpected was that the large majority of refrigerators are refrigerator-freezer combinations anyway—which means they're freezing water and making ice no matter what. So why should the simple business of automating the process be so energetically expensive?
The answer, it turns out, is the tiny motor inside the freezing system that's used to release the bits of ice from the mold and dump them into a tray. A motor that is designed to operate in so cold a setting needs an internal heater to keep it from freezing up, and heating elements require a lot of power—in this case, roughly three fourths of the total additional energy the ice maker uses.
Certainly, on the list of big things that are responsible for global warming, the icemaker ranks a good ways behind the coal-fired power plant, but averting climate catastrophe is often a game played in increments and inches, and every kilowatt hour helps. NIST is thus urging refrigerator manufacturers to look closely at the design of their icemakers, insisting that there are "substantial opportunities for efficiency improvements merely by optimizing the operations of the heaters."
- Lachlan Markay's blog
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Comments
Hey Time!
Submitted by jon_torlin on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 4:50pm.
Chill out with the global warming baloney! You're not fooling anyone!
How long before they start saying that the microprocessors in the smart phones cause global warming even though they are their own self-contained units?
-Jon
The big walk in freezer at
Submitted by ricklail on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 6:16pm.
The big walk in freezer at the prison has 4 fans on the evaporator units. The temp in there is kept at about 10 below. We have yet had a problem with the motors freezing up. So we need some other BS answer for that one. There is a heater in the ice maker that heats up when it time to dump the tray but I know nothing about a heater on a motor. Granted I don't know everything about a refrigerator but if a motor in a 10 below freezer doesn't freeze up I doubt the little motor on the ice maker would.
Ice makers cause global warming? ABSURD
Submitted by cbeyer on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 5:04pm.
The proponents of so called ‘man made’ global warming never cease to amaze. December 2010, January, February and March 2011 are on their way to being the coldest in many years. Coldest days and weeks on record occurred in many locations in Europe and North America. Yet, several UN scientists and global warming alarmists predicted that 2010/winter 2011 would be one of the warmest on record.
The humorous part of all is that no matter what weather patterns occur; global warming/climate change alarmists claim that all of them point to catastrophic conditions caused by the devastating impact of industrialization and the human population on earth. When Hurricane Katrina occurred as the result of an extremely active hurricane season in 2005, some climatologists claimed with great certainty that due to man made global warming calamitous hurricane activity would occur for years to come. Those predictions, like many others have simply not proven correct.
With falsified weather records by UN climatologists deliberately altered to ‘fit’ a scientific hypothesis designed to serve as the basis of a major transfer of wealth to less developed countries, the motivation for global warming hysteria has been unmasked. The ‘carbon footprint’ myth has been successfully used by enterprising hucksters such as Al Gore to become obscenely wealthy promoting the need to purchase ‘carbon credits’.
Is the world experiencing global warming? No one can say with certainty given the fact that highly specific and accurately recorded weather patterns and records have only been kept for over a hundred years. This for a planet that is over four billion years old! We know the earth has experienced short and long term periods of cooling and warming. Many scientists believe that the real source of climate change relates to sun spot activity.
No one has the real answers to the question of recent global weather patterns and what causes them. One thing is for certain….creating all new a governmental entity to capitalize on a climate theory that remains highly controversial and tainted with unfounded theories and claims has nothing to do with climate change. It’s all about wealth transfer from America to recipient’s third world countries blessed by the United Nations.
Oh and by they way....I am not going to stop using my icemaker in favor of plastic ice trays. Sorry, I don't buy any of this nonsense!
Okayyyyyy....
Submitted by johnsonl on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 5:25pm.
Time, Inc. Still worth exactly what was paid for it.
I've been looking for a good
Submitted by Hermano on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 5:32pm.
I've been looking for a good reason to replace my broken ice maker. Looks like I've just found it! Winning!
Hermano is Saving the Environment - One Ribeye at a Time! h/t Dr_Liberty
Hermano
Submitted by ricklail on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 6:08pm.
Where have you been? Haven't seen you around for a while.
Nice to be missed :-) I have
Submitted by Hermano on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:01pm.
Nice to be missed :-) I have discovered God's truth and that the media gives me headaches. Fortunately for me, God has also provided the remedy which limits the amount of time I get to "play" on Newsbusters. I hit a few articles here and there, but I can't spend as much time here as I would like. This one tickled me for some reason. Love your tag line, BTW.
Hermano is Saving the Environment - One Ribeye at a Time! h/t Dr_Liberty
Si, mi hermano
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:05pm.
Nice to see you back here....don't be such a stranger, K?
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
My ice maker is in the freezer.
Submitted by Order270 on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 5:43pm.
How does that change if I put ice trays in?
If you had read the article
Submitted by dgv on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 8:06pm.
You would know that the icemaker in your freezer consumes extra energy. Energy that wouldn't be consumed if you use icetrays instead.
If you don't believe in global warming you could still reduce your electric bill by using ice makers instead. But that's just stupid I'm sure.
Yeah, well, think instead about the energy used to ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 8:54pm.
print out all the paperwork involved in keeping all the welfare queens and weenies in the style to which they are accustomed.
The fact that they do nothing in the way of compensation for goods received tells me you are barking up the wrong tree reference energy waste.
MD
So what?
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 9:12pm.
It's my electricity, I'm paying for it, what's it to you?
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Well, you're just using more
Submitted by motherbelt on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 9:59pm.
Well, you're just using more than you NEED to!!
And that's what it's all about.
Unless you're one of the "elite".......
Of course she is one of the
Submitted by Hermano on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:02pm.
Of course she is one of the elite. But she is OUR elite, so I will give her a pass. Hello MB.
Hermano is Saving the Environment - One Ribeye at a Time! h/t Dr_Liberty
What extra energy?
Submitted by CobraMan on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 10:05am.
"You would know that the icemaker in your freezer consumes extra energy."
Yes, to drive the electric motor which turns the tray and dumps the ice.
"Energy that wouldn't be consumed if you use icetrays instead."
Except for the fact that to load those trays, you need to OPEN the freezer and place them inside. That TWO openings for every use of a tray of ice. Once to place it and once to use it. Since you lose all of the cold air inside that freezer section every time you open it, the compressor needs to run to compensate for that sudden increase in temperature. Since the compressor uses several times more energy than the small motor inside the ice maker, you end up using more energy by resorting to plain, old-fashioned ice trays than the use of an automatic ice maker. That's WHY refrigerators that have automatic ice makers have an Energy Star rating. It's an energy saving device. Especially of you have an ice maker that has an external dispenser, which doesn't require the user to open the freezer at all.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Not to mention
Submitted by Model850 on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 5:54pm.
Also, would switching to trays necessarily change anything?
I mean, why would the motor stop warming itself just because the ice maker no longer was making ice? It (the motor) plays no part in making ice, just dumping it.
So unless you removed the ice maker wouldn't that little motor just keep sucking juice to keep itself from freezing up, even though it was no longer needed to dump the ice?
Can someone help?
Submitted by Rush to Judgement on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 5:57pm.
The arctic glaciers are melting because of global warming.
Making ice causes global warming.
Is the artificial creation of ice causing real ice to melt?
I need help.
LOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by ricklail on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 6:30pm.
Charlie Manson is championing global warming so it must be so.
Why did they show those pictures of Sharon Tate? It just makes me want to strangle that worthless POS. I went to see Valley of the Dolls twice and Don't Make Waves 3 times just to see her. I couldn't tell you what the movies were about.
He!! is in waiting
Submitted by Boudin on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:03pm.
Ol Chuck is afraid it may come too soon!
Looks like they forgot about "frost free"
Submitted by upcountrywater on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 6:41pm.
Bring back the dazes where one places pots of hot water in the freezer to melt out all the slabs of ice on the insides. Maybe the greenies can get an answer from these guys,pretty much the same gang.
You Didn't Build That.
idiots
Submitted by MidAmerica on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 6:43pm.
There is no end to the daffyness of those whose religion is about Mother Earth.
Instead of tiny heaters in refrigerators why not go after a huge user of energy, street lights. Street lights are so numerous the luminescence can be seen from outer space. Turn them off and save tons of energy and money and when you become accustomed to the screams and gunfire the stars will be very enjoyable to see.
The pagans will be
Submitted by ricklail on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 7:28pm.
The pagans will be celebrating Gaia on Friday as we remember the walk down the Via Dolorosa to Calvary. Hard to take that Christ did that walk and the suffering for the pagans. They could care less.
Next they will be going after the whole refrigerator
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 6:49pm.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
In a way they did. They got
Submitted by ricklail on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 7:46pm.
In a way they did. They got rid of Freon and replaced it with R22 or R404A which is more expensive and does not work as good as Freon.
Chinese food therapy,
Submitted by upcountrywater on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 8:44pm.
Too much cold or yen food causes sadness and fearfulness.
Soon and very soon the EPA dictates all refrigerants are as poisonous as CO2.
Co2 at a 15 year low. Hip hip hooray for GreenSharia.
You Didn't Build That.
Hey, Time...
Submitted by GG_NB on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 7:25pm.
Want to save the trees? Easy: just stop publishing your magazine.
"If not us, who? If not now, when?"
~Ronald Reagan
I blame Linclon!
Submitted by CobraMan on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 8:02pm.
So, refrigeration is killing the earth? I blame Lincoln, the first President ever to use refrigeration! Of course, it was used to help him in the final days of his life, when he was dying in DC, but, hay, he did his part to destroy the earth's climate too!
See how idiotic the "blame mankind" arguments really are?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
I must assume...
Submitted by Boil It Down on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 8:05pm.
Time is throwing in with the anti-human environmentalists to say that the billions of lives saved by refrigeration was a mistake and they should all be dead. Say!...that would fix a lot of problems if there were 2/3 less people on the planet. All those bothersome folks in developing countries would simply not exist... problem solved. Academics and elitists are wonderful people. I'm beginning to see the light.
What a load of crap!
Submitted by CobraMan on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 8:14pm.
"According to the just-released findings, the average ice maker in the average fridge increases energy consumption by 12% to 20%—a whole lot of juice for an appliance that is in operation 24 hours a day from the moment you first plug it in till the moment you replace it a decade or more later."
What a load of crap! I dare you to find ANY ice maker that is actually running 24 hours a day! If it did, ice would be spilling out into the street.
Oh, by the way, you forgot to mention that modern refrigerators use over 6 times less energy than they did just 20 years ago. In other words, I could run 25 ice makers in my current refrigerator just to equal the energy used to run a non-ice making refrigerator from 20 years ago. I wonder why that isn't mentioned?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Go to Hell
Submitted by optimist on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 8:15pm.
That is all.
Time won't like this...
Submitted by Dan Diego on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 8:22pm.
Fossil fueled reefer plus
shocking
Submitted by MidAmerica on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 8:39pm.
So why are we supposed to worry about a tiny heater for an ice cube maker when we are supposed to be switching to electric vehicles which will use enormous amounts of electricity? One little whirl to the store in our golf car will use more than the ice maker will use all year.
Does this mean that Al Gore is Murdering Mother Gaia
Submitted by Comrade Jim on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 9:26pm.
With his extra large carbon foot print?
And we just bought an ice machine for the kitchen!
Submitted by drsamherman on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 9:37pm.
I guess that makes DW and I global warming deniers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS: Makes family gatherings a lot more fun when you don't have to stop by the supermarket for big bags of ice!
Doc Sam
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 9:42pm.
If you're new to ice makers....go get yourself a Mr. Coffee Ice Tea Pot.
Because your icemaker will crank out gobs of ice. Best way to keep it all nice and yummy (and not old and stale) is to make daily pots of iced tea.
Even doing that, I have to empty out my icemaker about every two weeks, it just gets too full. A well functioning icemaker is one of the great luxuries of this life. Truly.
And whilst I'm at it, let me give a huge shout out to my neighbor up on the next street, who has a commercial grade ice maker in his house, brilliantly supplied by natural gas....so that when the power goes out after a hurricane like blow, this lovely gentleman and his wife fill up their huge coolers, in their big old gas-guzzling pick up truck, and knock on our doors. ICE! ICE! ICE!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Ice Makers on sale*
Submitted by cajun2 on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:13pm.
Hey guys, did any of you notice the advertisement above the NB logo?
It says...The best portable ice maker at 155.99 plus free shipping.
I am making no further comments.
DW wanted the "Kitchen Aid" model.
Submitted by drsamherman on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:48pm.
...to match all of the other appliances in our kitchen. I do like a good husband should do....nod and sign the check when the bill comes. She makes a damn good Ceviche and I make a good bartender....both require ice and I don't give a damn about some AGW addict saying to the contrary!
Have you ever had good cracked crab without ice? Probably not.
I knew I liked you, Doc Sam
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:54pm.
A man who has his priorities straight.
How totally charming.
There are beautiful partnerships.....a great cook & a competent bartender....one of the best!
Bon Appetit!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Caj
Submitted by GG_NB on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:28pm.
Ice ice baby! ;)
"If not us, who? If not now, when?"
~Ronald Reagan
Here ya' go GG*
Submitted by cajun2 on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:38pm.
Watch out for the ice Giggles!!!
Beautiful...
Submitted by GG_NB on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:58pm.
And love the sound on that.
"If not us, who? If not now, when?"
~Ronald Reagan
The United Nations says so????/
Submitted by almostacowboy on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 11:17pm.
The United Nations said they could keep the peace in Sierra Leone and Rwanda. How'd that work out?
Actually, ice makers are being used to conserve power.
Submitted by big.league.slider on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 1:24am.
Making ice to save the earth:
http://www.buildinggreen.com/live/index.cfm/2009/7/4/Making-ice-at-night...
This reminds me of Barbara Streisand...
Submitted by shooter on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 3:02pm.
...and her telling people to use a clothesline instead of a clothes dryer.
Like she uses a clothesline.
I laughed my ass off at that one.
_________________________________________
"An armed society is a polite society" -- Robert A. Heinlein