I've always wanted "California Cooler Closet" it's a cold food storage system that could replace the fridge. It's essentially a super insulated cupboard on the cold side of the house, with a refrigerator door seal and vents to the outside at the top and bottom for air circulation. A thermometer set into the door allows you to monitor the temperature without opening the door and losing your cool.
I saw one in a house in Calgary once. It had those clear plastic vertical slats like you see in commercial refrigerators to help reduce temperature fluctuations when opening the door. Like most alternatives it needed a more active management approach than a plug in appliance. The homeowner said that in summer it was just a cooler for milk and butter but in winter the stuff on the lower shelves would freeze. Being Calgary she had to be prepared for sudden thaws.
Obviously whether this would be a useful technology or not would depend on where you live.