Refrigerators and Freezers
Residential Refrigerators Earning the ENERGY STAR
- ENERGY STAR
qualified refrigerator models use high efficiency compressors, improved
insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to
improve energy efficiency.
- ENERGY STAR
qualified
refrigerator models use at least 15% less energy than required by
current federal standards and 40 percent less energy than the
conventional models sold in 2001.
- Many ENERGY
STAR qualified refrigerator models include automatic ice-maker and
through-the-door ice dispensers. Qualified models are also available
with top, bottom, and side-by-side freezers.
ENERGY STAR qualified freezer models use at least 10% less energy than required by current federal standards.
Qualified freezer models are available in three configurations:
- Upright freezers with automatic defrost
- Upright freezers with manual defrost
- Chest freezers
You
may also be interested to know that you can reduce the amount of energy
your refrigerator or freezer uses, whether with a standard or an ENERGY
STAR qualified model:
- Position your refrigerator away from a heat source such as an oven, a dishwasher, or direct sunlight from a window.
- To allow air
to circulate around the condenser coils, leave a space between the wall
or cabinets and the refrigerator or freezer and keep the coils clean
- Make sure the door seals are airtight.
- Keep your refrigerator between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Minimize the amount of time the refrigerator door is open.
- Recycle older or second refrigerators.
Refrigerators & Freezers Purchasing Tips
- Ask for an
ENERGY STAR model. When buying a refrigerator or freezer from a
retailer, request an ENERGY STAR qualified model to ensure it is
energy-efficient.
- Check the
yellow Energy Guide label to determine how much energy is used to
operate the model, compare the energy use of similar models, and
approximate annual operating cost
- Purchase an
appropriate-sized refrigerator or freezer model for your needs.
Generally, the larger the refrigerator or freezer model, the greater
the energy consumption. The most energy-efficient refrigerator models
are typically 16-20 cubic feet. The most energy-efficient freezer
models are typically chest freezer
- Consider buying a refrigerator model with a top freezer. Top freezer models use 10-25% less energy than side-by-side models.
- Consider
doing without an ice-maker and dispenser. Automatic ice-makers and
through-the-door dispensers increase energy use by 14-20% and raise the
purchase price by about $75-25
- Look for a
refrigerator with automatic moisture control. Models with this feature
have been engineered to prevent moisture accumulation on the cabinet
exterior without the addition of a heater. This is not the same thing
as an "anti-sweat" heater. Models with an anti-sweat heater will
consume 5% to 10% more energy than models without this feature.
- Manual
defrost models use half the energy of automatic defrost models but must
be defrosted periodically to realize energy savings. Frost buildup
increases the amount of energy needed to keep the motor running. Don't
allow frost to build up more than one-quarter of an inch.
