Fridge Spreads The Word

Talking fridges could no longer be relegated to the realms of science fiction – one could be coming to a home near you in the not too-distant future and it was invented here in Australia.

Still in its infancy, the CSIRO prototype “smart fridge” has the ability to exchange data with other fridges so they can share the electricity load throughout the day, according to a recent report in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Nicknamed the “hot-rod” fridge, the Sydney-based unit measures the energy use of several other fridges based in Newcastle and allows them to decide when they rest and when they run, which helps spread energy use.
If the technology is taken up, there is no reason it could not be applied to other appliances, said research scientist Geoff James. “If you can co-ordinate a whole lot of fridges to do that, then you can have a significant effect on total energy demand,” he said.