Question

STT 11.6 Which of the following changes would allow your refrigerator to use less energy to run?

A Increasing the temperature inside the fridge
B increasing the temp of the kitchen
C decreasing the tmp inside the fridge
D decreasing the temp of the kitchen

Answer 1

The refrigerator uses less energy to maintain its internal temperature when the kitchen is cooler (option D), as less heat needs to be moved from the fridge to the environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question relates to how a refrigerator can use less energy to operate. The correct answer is D: decreasing the temperature of the kitchen. This allows the refrigerator to use less energy to maintain its internal temperature because the difference in temperature between the inside of the refrigerator and the surrounding environment is reduced. The fridge operates by transferring heat from inside to the outside environment; thus, a cooler kitchen means less heat is transferred back into the fridge, requiring less energy for cooling.

Additionally, other factors are at play with grocery store managers suggesting that there is less total energy consumption in the summer if the store is kept at a low temperature. This strategy minimizes the frequency and duration refrigeration cycles must run to keep the food inside cold. By maintaining a cooler ambient temperature, the grocery store refrigeration systems don't have to work as hard, thereby potentially reducing overall energy consumption.