Automatic Ice Makers Aren’t Convenient For Your Wallet

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If you’re like me, and don’t want to spend more money than you should on anything, than I suggest you take a good look at your fridge/freezer. Does your unit have an automatic ice maker built into it? If so, it’s probably a good idea to turn it off. After all, there is nothing convenient about spending more money that you have to.

Automatic ice makers will cause your fridge/freezer to consume anywhere from 14%-20% more energy and could cost you as much as $437.31 per year! Our advice is to run off your automatic ice maker and use ice trays instead. After all, the ice trays will act like an additional thermal battery and help to keep your energy costs down while supplying you with ice!

Let’s take a closer look at the energy savings identified above: According to Hawaiian Electric Company, ice-makers add 106kWh per month to your energy bill. So if you multiply that by 12 months in a year you get 1,272kWh per year, factor in the cost per kWh and you get $437.31 of extra spending per year! (this is the cost per year for residents of Oahu)

If you’re looking for more ways to save money and energy around your home, be sure to check out our green home improvement projects! After all, Green Living Ideas is a top 20 home improvement website.

Photos are courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons (Ice-cube people)

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Tags: automatic ice maker, cost of living, cost to operate, energy-efficiency, freezer, fridge, fridge/freezer, Hawaii, ice maker, Oahu, save money

About the Author

Peter Young graduated from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) with a degree in journalism and has made sustainability and eco-conscious living mainstays of both his professional and personal life. It was during his time at PLU that he began his journey with sustainability and it's what has led him to writing for Green Living Ideas. He currently resides in Honolulu and works for Pono Home, an energy efficiency company focused on reducing carbon emissions and promoting a healthier, greener lifestyle.