[MediocreButArrogant]

Originally Posted by lvoc

Checking around a bit it appears natural gas is about half the cost of propane per BTU. So maybe $0.60 for NG per day. or $18 a month. Still looks like a no brainer.

I'd imagine that a gas refrigerator also produces more heat inside the home that has to be removed by the A/C system during cooling season. The electric refrigerator only has heat as a result of moving it from the inside of the refrigerator to the outside (which the gas refrigerator would have too), plus whatever energy is wasted as heat by the compressor.

[Rexofdworld]

The figures above for usage don't seem correct to me. I think they were taken from a site that listed propane usage and they use about 2 to 3 gallons of propane PER WEEK. The flame burns at a rate of only 1750 btu per hour when it is on high. The fridges don't stay on high all the time. They will switch to a low flame when the interior has cooled to the thermostat set temperature. Low flame is at about 800 btu. If you use the average of 1275 btu per hour x 24 hours = 30600 btu per day. That should give you an idea when you calc your cost of NG.
That size flame is like a cigarette lighter size flame. The heat it puts out will affect a small room but typically not a larger kitchen. Venting is always a good idea but not mandatory.
The difference in performance between one of these Gas Refrigerators and an Electric Refrigerator is not the temps but the time it takes to get to those temps. It takes an Absorption System approx. 4 times longer than a compressor (electric) type.
Lots of good info on this site Gas Refrigerator super sales and detailed information on the EZ Freeze Brand

[MSchu]

I wonder if I look hard enough if I could find a refrigerator that works by ICE...

[BBMW]

Um, that's not an icebox. That's an early electric refrigerator. Note the condenser coil on top.

Originally Posted by MSchu

I wonder if I look hard enough if I could find a refrigerator that works by ICE...

[jlawrence01]

There are several issues that you are going to have with a natural gas refrigerator. Make sure that you can deal with them before making the purchase.

1) Generally, they are significantly smaller than the average modern refrigerator - maybe 60% of the size.
2) There is one manufacturer of the product so pricing will be greater than the usual electric refrigerator which is more competitive.
3) The last "old style" gas refrigerators were made in the 1950s. Most refrigerator repair guys have never seen a functioning gas refrigerator. If it breaks down, you might have problems finding who to call.

The last analysis that I ran was in 2003 and the natural gas appeared cheaper to operate. However, natural gas prices have dropped even more. However, I have not done the analysis in ten years.