With their average daily temperatures well below zero during the winter, it's a wonder why Canadians even need electrical coolers for beer. Regardless, these aging iceboxes, a staple for one in three Canadian households, can consume up to five times as much energy as a modern-day refrigerator.
Beer fridges are nothing more than extra refrigerators used to store non-essential items such as beer or soda, says Denise Young, an economics professor at the University of Alberta. Young performed the study after learning that most households keep old fridges even after they buy new ones—a move less common for other appliances like dishwashers and washing machines. "A lot of people usually wait for other appliances to break down before purchasing a new one," she says.
However, the mystery of how to quickly keep beer cold has been solved over the past few decades. "There have been major improvements in refrigerator technology," Young says. Today's fridges can consume as little as 380 kilowatt-hours, compared with fridges built in the 1970s, which used up to 1580 kwh per year.
A fridge like that would cost an extra $150 a year to run, Young says. Four-fifths, or $120, of the costs could be saved by replacing the fridge with a more energy-efficient unit—enough for at least 10 more cases of beer. —Wayne Ma
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(Image from Strange Brew, 1983, MGM)