Top Energy-Saving Refrigerators: Cut Your Fridge’s Energy Consumption with these Ideas

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A full 14% of your household energy bill may go to powering your refrigerator. According to the California Energy Commission’s Consumer Energy Center, an inefficient, old refrigerator could add as much as $280 to your monthly utility bill.

So keeping your refrigerator in good working order and running as efficiently as possible will help to save your money month over month. In many cases, you can save money by simply cleaning your refrigerator’s coils, which can easily be a do-it-yourself job depending on your craftiness. Replacing your refrigerator [recycling electronics] might be the better move if your appliance is too old.

Dumping refrigerators is an illegal practice in many states and countries, always make sure you dispose of your old refrigerators in the correct and recommended manner – failing to do so can result in heavy fines and persecution. Please refer to this International Law Firm for advice and guidance on energy law.

1. Recycling Refrigerator

It’s time to recycle your refrigerator and replace with it a new one if it was produced before 2001 (standards for fridges were upgraded that year, making them more efficient). Calculate the potential savings to see whether the investment will be worth it with ENERGY STAR’s Savings Calculator.

recycling refrigerator

Just be sure to recycle your refrigerator so that any toxic refrigerants, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are kept from getting into the environment.

2. Know The EnergyGuide Label

An easy way to find out the energy efficiency of a refrigerator is to check out the EnergyGuide label that comes on every new fridge appliance.

energy guide

These labels estimate the amount of energy the appliance will use every year based on average use (they’re often hanging inside) so that you can quickly compare one model to the other.

3. Stainless Steel Energy Star Kenmore Model

When looking for a new refrigerator, you should seriously consider looking for an ENERGY STAR model. These models must be at least 20% more energy efficient than the federal standards, which will reduce your energy bills every month.

kenmore refrigerator

This ENERGY STAR qualified Kenmore model is recommended by Greener Choices of Consumer Reports as one of the best options around. ENERGY STAR models may also qualify you for a rebate from the government, which makes the investment a little cheaper.

4. Bottom Mount Frost Free Refrigerator

Another way to save money with your fridge is to get one that’s smaller. Most of us have refrigerators that are far too large for the number of people in our homes, full of food that will either go bad or that which doesn’t need chilling at all. ENERGY STAR tells us that the most energy efficient models are those that are between 16 and 20 cubic feet.

avanti refrigerator energyguide

Cut back on the food you store in a fridge by cleaning it out, buy only what you need for the next week (or month, at most), choose ingredients that are canned or jarred instead of those that need cool preservation, and be sure to eat your leftovers rather than keeping them for months on end. This Avanti refrigerator is 9.2 Cu Ft, has adjustable shelving, dual crispers, and more.

5. GE Energy Star Refrigerator

Another important feature to look for in an energy efficient refrigerator is a top-mounted freezer. According to ENERGY STAR, they use 10-25% less energy than bottom-mount or side-by-side models.

GE refrigerator

This GE model refrigerator is ENERGY STAR qualified, has a top-mount fridge, and many other energy-saving features.

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