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KITCHEN APPLIANCES - Buying Refrigerators, page two
Things to know that SIGNIFICANTLY help when BUYING Refrigerators:
EHW Members are asking:
WHAT REFRIGERATOR DO I BUY TO SAVE THE MOST ENERGY?ANSWER: Use the YELLOW Energy Guide Labels to compare and find the MOST Energy efficient model. Do Not just Buy because the model has an Energy Star!
View Consumer Report on ABC
Below are three Yellow Energy Guide Labels. One for each style: Freezer on Top; Freezer on Bottom; Freezer on Side.
This Yellow Energy Guide tag is NOT attached to the MOST efficient model made.Freezer on Top...
- Capacity: 21.0 cubic feet
- Automatic Defrost
- Racks for best air flow, no solid shelves.
- No extras, No through the door ice service.Within the "White Box" of the Yellow Energy tag shown on the Left, you can see a BAR graph that rates all the models made... Models made with the same features listed in Blue above and by all the different manufacturers.
The MOST efficient model made use 405 kilowatt hours per year.
The model the Yellow Energy tag is attached to in the photo on the left is NOT the MOST efficient. The model the tag belongs to uses 442 kilowatt hours per year. (shown just above the black triangle)
Therefore, if you wish to buy the MOST efficient model made, you will have to find out what manufacturer makes that model. The reason is because the 442 model you are looking at is NOT it. Even thought the model at 442 still has an Energy Star Label, it is not the MOST efficient model made. Most likely, you will have to shop at another store to find it.
The model that uses the MOST Energy AND still receives an ENERGY STAR LABEL (because that model is still more efficient than a 25 year refrigerator) is shown in the Right corner of the BAR graph at 527.
The " fine print " on the Yellow Energy tag says the Bar graph is actually for models within 20.5 to 22.4 cubic feet and all other features are the same.
The " fine print " also says that the estimated yearly operating cost of $40.00 is for the 442 model the tag is attached to and that is based upon the nation's average electric cost. So in fact, if you live in a large city or along a coast, your actual electric cost for this model can be Double that.
Freezer on Bottom...
- Capacity: 19.7 cubic feet
- Automatic Defrost
- No extras, No through the door ice service.Within the "Rectangular Box" of the Yellow Energy tag shown on the Right, you can see a BAR graph that rates all the models made... Models made with the same features listed in Blue above and by all the different manufacturers.
The MOST efficient model made use 476* kilowatt hours per year.
* 71 more than the most efficient model with freezer on the top.The model the Yellow Energy tag is attached to in the photo on the right is NOT the MOST efficient for this design. The model the tag belongs to uses 482 kilowatt hours per year. (shown just above the black triangle)
The model that uses the MOST Energy AND still receives an ENERGY STAR LABEL (because that model is still more efficient than a 25 year refrigerator) is shown in the Right corner of the BAR graph at 573.
The " fine print " on the Yellow Energy tag says the Bar graph is actually for models within 18.5 to 20.4 cubic feet and all other features are the same.
The " fine print " also says that the estimated yearly operating cost of $44.00 is for the 482 model the tag is attached to and that is based upon the nation's average electric cost. So in fact, if you live in a large city or along a coast, your actual electric cost for this model can be Double that.
- If you get this model with Extras, such as water and/or ice through the door, your electric bill will be higher.
Freezer on Side...
- Capacity: 25.7 cubic feet
- Yes Extras, Water/Ice through the door.Within the "Rectangular Box" of the Yellow Energy tag shown on the Right, you can see a BAR graph that rates all the models made... Models made with the same features listed in Blue above and by all the different manufacturers.
The MOST efficient model made use 618* kilowatt hours per year.
* 213 more than the most efficient model with freezer on the top.The model the Yellow Energy tag is attached to in the photo on the right is NOT the MOST efficient for this design. The model the tag belongs to uses 713 kilowatt hours per year. (shown just above the black triangle)
The model that uses the MOST Energy AND still receives an ENERGY STAR LABEL (because that model is still more efficient than a 25 year refrigerator) is shown in the Right corner of the BAR graph at 727.
The " fine print " on the Yellow Energy tag says the Bar graph is actually for models within 25.7 to 25.9 cubic feet and all other features are the same.
The " fine print " also says that the estimated yearly operating cost of $59.00 is for the 713 model the tag is attached to and that is based upon the nation's average electric cost. So in fact, if you live in a large city or along a coast, your actual electric cost for this model can be Double that.
Click onward to Learn How to SAVE while using different Refrigerators...
