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<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Hi Dave,<br>
<br>
It's a stretch, but consider Nova Kool. This is not a
low-initial-cost option, but it can be an ultra-low energy option.
Nova Kool makes a high efficiency DC refrigerator kit - just the
mechanical and electrical guts. You build the box. It was
originally designed for boaters who had to make odd shaped
refrigerator boxes to fit curved hulls, or wanted to convert ice
boxes.<br>
<br>
I put together one of these last year for the repro historic boat
Lois McClure. It is disguised as a big packing crate in the hold
and has 4" of foam in the walls and an airtight door seal. It uses
less than half a kWh a day for 10 cu. ft.. The compressor assembly
is located 12' away behind another crate.<br>
<br>
In the case of off grid residential use, your client could build a
hyper-insulated (6"? 8"? 12"?) box right into an outside wall with
the compressor outside. They could even incorporate a closed sheet
metal air exchange box in the back to use the winter cold sink. If
the box has to be interior the compressor can be located up to 12'
away, or 16' with the extended kit. The whole kit costs about
$1,000. Yes, pricier than a commercial fridge, but think of the
cost of a depreciating generator plus fuel. Think of the extended
lifespan of the battery bank. It probably works in terms of fuel,
maintenance, and deferred capital costs.</font><font face="Times
New Roman, Times, serif"> I've always found that it pays to spend
a little more up front on the demand side management.<br>
<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">A gag I used to
use when I had a propane fridge was to set a few water filled
1-liter soda bottles out on the porch in the winter. Then I'd swap
them in and out of my fridge a pair-three at a time, making it a
semi-icebox.<br>
<br>
Good luck and please report back if you find a good fridge.<br>
<br>
Hilton<br>
<br>
<br>
</font>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Hilton Dier III
Renewable Energy Design
Partner, Solar Gain LLC
453 East Hill Rd.
Middlesex, VT 05602
Tel: 802-223-6652</pre>
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