I have always wondered about this one...
Refrigerators are one of the top energy consumers in
homes.
In Northern climates, the outside temperature is colder
than indoor
temperature at least 6 months of the year.

Why aren't they designed with "heat" exchangers to benefit
from cool if
not frigid external air?

CY: It does make sense, to me. It would be possible to put
the refrig backed up to external wall. Some kind of gasket
around the exterior of the fridge. Draw outdoor air for the
condensor. Winter time, that would provide better cooling.
Summer, to dump the heat outdoors. Window AC do that. Why
not refrigerators?

Even in warm climates (or summers) why isn't the same
principle used to
vent the warm air from the compressor & coils outside
rather than
loading the AC?

Presumably this could all be done by putting the
evaporator coils
outside which would in turn decrease (or eliminate if cold
enough) the
draw on the compressor during winter months.

CY: I suspect you mean condensor coils, but I know what you
mean.


Of course, installation might be a little more expensive,
but with all
the focus on green-this and green-that why isn't this
being done?

CY: Coordination between fridge makers, and home builders,
comes to mind.