Refrigerators

Out with the old, in with the new

Your refrigerator uses the most energy of any appliance in your home if you consider that it runs 24 hours, seven days a week. According to ACEEE, there are 126 million refrigerators and 38 million freezers using 200 billion kWh a year.

Fortunately, being one of the largest energy consumers in your home, refrigeration offers a considerable opportunity for energy and monetary savings. Both mandatory and voluntary federal standards have led manufacturers to make major advances in energy efficiency technologies for refrigerators and freezers over the past thirty years, and both utilities and government agencies offer several incentives for recycling your old refrigerator or freezer and buying more energy-efficient models.

Efficient technology

Although a new refrigerator is a major investment, it may save you a large amount of money on monthly utility bills, even if your old refrigerator is running just fine. That’s because new refrigerators use about 50% less energy than ones from just 10-20 years ago, and can save significantly more when compared to even older models.

Big savings

A new top freezer refrigerator uses over 68% less energy than a 20-year old top freezer model.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, energystar.gov), you can save $77 per year on your energy bill by replacing a refrigerator from 2000, and over $149 per year by replacing one from 1990.  Keeping in mind that you can expect your new refrigerator to keep your food cold for the next 15-20 years, a new refrigerator can more than pay for itself in energy bill savings over its lifetime! 

Size matters

The energy consumption of a new refrigerator can vary greatly based on the size, style, and features you choose. The most efficient models are those between 16 and 20 cubic feet.  Refrigerators larger than 25 cubic feet use much more energy than smaller models, so you may want to consider downsizing your refrigerator if you find that it is often not full.  On the other hand, are you currently using two refrigerators for your family’s needs?  Although larger models use more energy, one large refrigerator still uses much less energy than using two refrigerators.  When you get your new refrigerator, recycle your old model and don’t keep it in the garage for overflow use. Your new efficient model will only add to your energy load if you continue using your old refrigerator as well! 

Although new refrigerators can offer significant energy savings, replacing your refrigerator may not be the most effective energy efficiency option for your situation.  Significant technological innovations were applied to refrigerators after 1993, so energy savings are largest when replacing a refrigerator purchased before 1993.  If your refrigerator is fairly new, it may be more cost-effective to weatherize your house, or upgrade your lighting. If you think replacement is not right for you, there are other things you can do to keep your existing refrigerator running at the lowest possible cost.