Enjoy Cool Energy Savings with Greener Refrigerators
(Page 2 of 3)
Sept. 16, 2008
By Megan Phelps
Choosing a New Refrigerator
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If you have an older refrigerator, upgrading to a newer model can save money in the long term through reductions in your electric bills. Energy Star has a refrigerator retirement calculator that can help do the math. Remember that if you do decide to buy a new refrigerator, you won’t save any energy if you simply move the old one out into the garage as a second refrigerator. One green alternative is to recycle the old fridge.
When you’re shopping for a new refrigerator, look for energy efficient models. A good place to start is by checking for the Energy Star label and — good news! — this standard was recently updated to require higher levels of efficiency. You can get a complete list of all refrigerators with an Energy Star label here.
For another list of efficient refrigerators, check out this page comparing refrigerator models from Greener Choices. The list includes data on prices and reliability, as well as on energy use.
If your fridge is relatively new and energy efficient enough, but needs basic maintenance, read Repair a Broken Refrigerator from The Family Handyman magazine. It can help you reduce fridge noise, fix a broken ice maker, and more.
Radical Energy Reduction
For most homes, the steps above will produce the energy savings you’re looking for. But for some people that’s not quite enough. In particular, homes that are powered by renewable energy generally need to consume as little energy as possible. (It’s usually much cheaper to cut your electricity use than to upgrade to a larger solar or wind system.) If you’re looking for serious electricity savings, here are a few options to consider:
