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What Is An Energy Star Certified Refrigerator?
An ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator is a refrigerator that has been tested and is at least 9 percent more energy-efficient than the federal minimum energy efficiency standard. These refrigerators and designed to save you money through improvement in compressors and insulation. The ENERGY STAR program is jointly operated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
How Much of My Homes Energy Is Used by My Refrigerator?
While 17% of the electricity used in the average home is for air conditioning, 7% is used to run refrigerators. It should be noted that refrigerators have become significantly more efficient, overall than they were in past years. Previous U.S. Department of Energy reports indicated that they were the second-highest energy use in the home, at almost 14%.
Fortunately, many of the newer models of refrigerators are, in fact, much larger than older models while still using much less electricity. Today's monster 25 cubic foot Energy Star side-by-side refrigerator only uses around 60 kWh of electricity per month. In comparison, a 1996 15 cubic foot frost-free refrigerator consumed almost three times that amount of power at 150 kWh per month. Thus, you could potentially double the amount of refrigerator space while drastically reducing the amount of electricity consumed by your refrigerator.
How Much Can You Save With An New Refrigerator?
Most homeowners' financial common sense to use an appliance might seem like most homeowners' financial common sense until it is no longer functional or practical. From a purely economic standpoint, however, you will most likely be able to save money by changing to newer and more energy-efficient models.
In the United States, the average cost of electricity is around 13 cents per kWh. If you have an old refrigerator that uses an average of 150 kWh per month, you pay an average of $19.50 per month to keep it running around the clock or $234 per year. A 17 cubic foot Energy Star refrigerator, on the other hand, only uses around 35 kWh per month, which would cost you $4.55 a month, or about $55 per year. Over a year, you could expect to save around $180.
Large vendors sell similar sized and energy-efficient refrigerators for as little as $700. The savings on your electricity bill over five years would more than offset the refrigerator's cost, and you would continue to save over the 15 to 20-year lifespan of the fridge.
If you want even more savings, a ten cubic foot refrigerator manufactured by Magic Chef uses under 25 kWh per month and costs less than $400. By switching to this type of refrigerator from an older, inefficient fridge, you could pay yourself back in only a few months. The annual cost of running this fridge (around $40) is what you'd pay for only two months of running an older model of refrigerator.
What Is the Average Number of Refrigerators per Household?
Almost one out of every four American households has at least two refrigerators at home. 15% of households have a second refrigerator with at least 20 years under its belt and use much more energy than newer models. These statistics show that as many households transition to more energy-efficient refrigerators, they "move" their old one to the basement, garage, or another part of the home. While having extra space to keep the beer cold might sound appealing, you are most likely paying a hefty price to keep that old refrigerator around.
What Is the Average Life Expectancy of a Refrigerator?
Refrigerators that are properly maintained should last an average of 14 to 17 years, with compact models tending to last a few years less than larger models. However, what can be even more disheartening is checking new refrigerators' prices at your local appliance store.
How Much Does a Refrigerator Cost?
While you can find new refrigerators for around $350, top freezer refrigerators come in under $1,000. In contrast, newer, energy-efficient side-by-side refrigerator and freezer models can cost upward of $1,200 to 2,000 depending on dimensions and features.
In Canada, you can also look for Energuide ratings in-store to determine how much a specific model will cost you to operate.
Tobias Roberts
Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.
