| Energy Saving Tips |
| Energy-Efficient Refrigerator Buying Tips |
 |
|
If you are thinking about purchasing a new refrigerator, keep these tips in mind to be sure you are purchasing a model that is energy efficient and the right size for your home. At the bottom of the page, follow the link to a listing of the ENERGY STAR models. |
|
|
|
| What is the right size of refrigerator for a household? |
| One rule is to choose a model that has 10 ft3 of food storage for a family of two and then add an extra 1 ft3 for each additional person in the household. The freezer should be 40% to 50% as large as the food storage section. Thus, a family of four might want to pick a model that is between 16.5 and 17.5 ft3, and a family of six might choose a model that is about 20 ft3. |
|
| Side-by-side versus upright models..... |
| Side-by-side refrigerator/freezers use more energy than units with the freezer above or below the fresh food compartment. Side-by-sides take up more space for the same storage volume, since there is a wall running the full height of the unit rather than just across its width. Therefore, to get the same inner volume, manufacturers need to build a bigger box or use thinner walls, each of which will require more energy. Also, the side-by-side has a greater perimeter around its doors. The seal of a door is never as good at keeping the cold in as a molded and insulated wall. |
|
| Energy use for those features of convenience such as ice dispensers..... |
| Refrigerators with through-the-door features, like cold water or automatic ice dispensers, use up to 20% more energy than similar models without these extras. You may open the door less, but the absence of insulation in that portion of the door and the other additional levers and tubes in the walls make the refrigerator less efficient all year long. |
|
| Is manual defrost better? |
| Manual defrost models use up to one-third less energy than automatic defrost units. However, one should defrost the freezer when one-fourth inch of frost has accumulated. |
|
| Get rid of that extra half-full refrigerator. |
| Two refrigerators use more electricity than a single large refrigerator of equivalent size. It is never a good idea to keep a half-empty refrigerator in the garage to store beer or sodas, while another refrigerator is in the kitchen with room to spare. |
|
| Recycle that old refrigerator. |
| Don't let an old, inefficient refrigerator pass onto the used appliance market, recycle it for parts only. If the old, inefficient refrigerator wastes energy and costs more to run, it won't reward a family that must pay $50 or $80 for the refrigerator and then pay the higher energy bills to operate it. |
|
| Look for the ENERGY STAR label. |
| Don't forget to look for the ENERGY STAR label on a new refrigerator. It is a quick and easy way to ensure you are purchasing an energy efficient model. For a listing of the refrigerator models that are approved by the Department of Energy as an ENERGY STAR appliance, visit www.energystar.gov. |
