Camille LeFevre
Rise | We've Done the Research
What Are the Most Efficient Types of Refrigerators?
When thinking about buying a regular-sized refrigerator, size is the first consideration for efficiency. Generally speaking, the bigger the fridge, the more energy it uses. The size of refrigerators is measured in cubic feet, and refrigerators can range from 9 cubic feet on the small end up to 30 on the high end. The most efficient refrigerators are usually between 16 and 20 cubic feet, which is comfortable for a family of four, depending on food-buying and -eating habits, of course.
Refrigerator styles depend primarily on the placement of doors and freezer and refrigerator compartments. On average, the French door style is least efficient because it lets out lots of air when opened. A side-by-side refrigerator is also less efficient because the surface area of the freezer doors makes the loss of cold air more of a problem.
Refrigerators with freezers on the bottom can be better, but the most efficient options are most often the freezer on top models. Why? The freezer-on-top model is the most efficient because refrigerators rely on compressors to achieve the cooling necessary to work correctly. These compressors take a lot of energy to function, and they produce heat when operating. The compressors are on the bottom of refrigerators, which is why the vent at the bottom of your refrigerator can feel warm. So, freezer-on-top models separate the colder freezer from the compressor's heat—making them the most efficient design.
ENERGY STAR Refrigerator Ratings and Wattage
If you're looking for the most energy-efficient refrigerator options to meet your needs, you are in luck. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Program, which helps businesses and consumers save money by certifying more energy-efficient products, has a refrigerator program.
How Much Energy Do ENERGY STAR Refrigerators Save?
ENERGY STAR refrigerators are excellent options because they use less energy and save money over time—usually about 9 percent over non-ENERGY STAR models. Given the improvements in the efficiency of refrigerators over the years, replacing an older model with a new ENERGY STAR model will save even more. The better energy efficiency in these newer ENERGY STAR refrigerators comes from improved insulation and more efficient compressor technology.
The wattage of newer ENERGY STAR refrigerators is impressive. While refrigerators typically range in 100-150 in wattage, an ENERGY STAR model with the freezer on top can use less energy than a 60-watt light bulb.
When thinking about how many watts of electricity it uses, it is essential to remember that refrigerators don't use power consistently throughout the day. The fridge's compressor cycles on and off throughout the day; when it is on, it uses more energy. You can hear it too when your refrigerator kicks in and starts making noise.
Article By
Kate Knuth
Dr. Kate Knuth is founder, strategist, and writer at Democracy and Climate LLC; and a fellow at the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment. Kate was the first chief resilience officer for the City of Minneapolis and founding director of the Boreas Leadership Program. She served six years in the Minnesota House of Representatives, where she championed clean energy, climate, and toxic chemical policy reform policy. Kate also served six years on the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board. She earned a PhD from the University of Minnesota, a MSc from Oxford University, and a BA from the University of Chicago. She was a Fulbright Fellow in Norway.
