Refrigerators represent the perfect storm of energy efficiency: It’s easy to notice the energy savings when you get a more efficient model, since they’re one of the top household energy-guzzlers. And unlike, say, insulation, a fridge is a tangible part of your everyday life—one you can even show off to the neighbors. So how do you know when it’s time to buy a more efficient refrigerator?
A good rule of thumb is the 1993 test: If your fridge was built before 1993 (when more stringent federal energy standards for refrigerators went into effect), a new, efficient refrigerator will probably save you energy and money. For refrigerators built after 1993, use a tool like Energy Star’s Refrigerator Retirement Savings Calculator to determine when would be wise to upgrade.
Once you’ve decided to buy a new, efficient refrigerator, the real challenge begins: figuring out if the model you like is energy efficient. Looking for the Energy Star label is a great place to start, but there’s actually lots of variability among Energy Star-rated models. Long story short, the following tips should help you find an efficient refrigerator that looks great and saves you money:
- Avoid side-by-side refrigerators. Side-by-side fridges are subject to different Energy Star requirements, so even those that are Energy Star-rated tend to use more energy than other models. Instead, consider models with the freezer on top or bottom.
- Consider making your own ice. If you’ve got some old ice trays that you can dig out and dust off, you might want to consider steering clear of refrigerators with icemakers or through-the-door ice. Both of these options add to your fridge’s energy use (and price).
- Check the CEE list before you buy. The Consortium for Energy Efficiency rates refrigerators using a higher standard than Energy Star. All CEE-rated refrigerators will use less energy than Energy Star requires, but some use a lot less: CEE Tier 3 fridges use 30 percent less energy than the federal standard, compared to Energy Star’s 20 percent. Just be sure to check CEE’s list of efficient refrigerators before you leave home—rated refrigerators aren’t labeled, so you’ll need to do some research before you shop.
Once you get that efficient refrigerator home, check out the Department of Energy’s tips or the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) for tips on making sure you take advantage of all that new efficiency. And don’t forget to recycle the old fridge!
Related stories:
Image: Liz West via Flickr
Amy Foster Parish is on staff with the Washington State University Extension Energy Program. In her spare time, she enjoys packing her freezer full to capacity to improve its efficiency.