NEWS

Solar fridge

The Miami Herald
September 30, 2007
www.miamiherald.com

In the next few months, Paul Landino of eMarine in Fort Lauderdale will introduce a small photovoltaic kit designed to run a refrigerator on solar power. It will cost about $4,000, and it will take the refrigerator -- the most energy-expensive appliance in the house -- off the electric grid to save energy and money.
 
It also will keep the fridge running during power outages after hurricanes.
 
Called URPS-1500 for uninterruptible refrigerator power supply, Landino said, ``We believe this kit is the first of its kind to be offered.''
 
It will require only two solar panels to run a refrigerator that uses less than 500 kilowatts a year (check the Energy Star label on the appliance.)
 
Landino also carries the first windmill designed for residential use. It is called the SkyStream 3.7.
 
''Realistically it does require an average 10 mile-per-hour wind to be effective,'' Landino said, ``and in South Florida this is a bit of a problem, but there are pockets of wind down here and for those situations this is a winner product.''