Turn off the light when you leave a room – install energy efficient light bulbs – keep the air conditioning at a minimum – don’t leave the television on when no one is watching it.
These are all good ideas to save on the electricity bill, and most likely if you’re the one paying that bill every month, you are also the one reminding otHERS® that a little effort will save you a few bucks.
Even though you do your best to save on power consumption, what is the one appliance that keeps running even when you aren’t home?
The refrigerator of course.
It doesn’t need you to turn it on or off. It knows when it’s time to cool down and it will happily start the power going to keep your food and favorite drinks at the right temperature. Just because a refrigerator is a modern convenience that is more of a necessity than a luxury, it doesn’t mean you should have to pay more than necessary to make sure your beer is cold.
Modern appliances have come a long way over the past few years in terms of energy efficiency. Those large heavy solid steel units from the 1950’s, which still can be found in many basements and garages, were designed to keep things cool at any cost.
New, lighter, energy refrigerators can save you a lot of money over the course of a year, but how do you know which model is right for you?
The first thing you should look for when buying a new energy refrigerator is the ENERGY STAR label. An ENERGY STAR certified energy refrigerator must be 20 percent more efficient than the current minimum standard set by the U.S. government, meaning the model you choose will be that much more efficient than a non-certified model.
However, that being said keep in mind that not all refrigerators are created equal – not by a long shot. The ENERGY STAR rating is broken down to several categories depending on the style of the unit.
For example, an energy efficient refrigerator with a freezer on top will not compare to a side-by-side unit and ENERGY STAR rates them accordingly. Next, think about size. Do you really need the largest model available in the show room? Like anything, the larger the model the more power consumption. Consider downsizing to a unit that meets your needs and doesn’t leave you with a lot of empty shelf space.
Now face the downside of saving on your utility costs – forget the icemaker. Those through the door ice dispensers will ad about 20 percent to your cost of running the appliance.
Try an old-fashioned ice tray in the freezer section. They still work very well!
In terms of style, a freezer-on-top type unit is the most energy efficient refrigerator model, while a side-by-side style is the least efficient and will cost you extra in power consumption.
The point of an energy efficient refrigerator is to preserve your food and keep your drinks cool, while maximizing your savings through lower energy costs. So, it makes sense to take the time to ask RESNET certified auditor, before deciding which one you want to buy.