by Kaitlyn Hamilton

Created on: September 03, 2008

Tips for Buying an Energy-Efficient Refrigerator

The next time you go shopping for a new refrigerator, there are certain things you should consider before you make your final selection. You want to purchase a refrigerator that is large enough for your needs, but you really shouldn't purchase a refrigerator that is enormous if you don't really need it. I know that the larger refrigerators look impressive and make a real fashion statement in your kitchen, but they aren't practical if you're wanting to conserve energy.

Not all refrigerators were created equally. Any refrigerator that has an ice and water dispenser on the outside will use more energy than one without, but most of us would agree that the dispenser is very handy. If you want to purchase a refrigerator with an external water and ice dispenser, then you should take a look at the new 3-door (French Door) models with the freezer on bottom. You will still have the benefits of the external dispenser, but the energy usage is less for most French Door models than with the Side by Sides. French door models also make better use of space in both the refrigerator and freezer so you can fit larger items such as party trays and pizzas.

Some top freezer models can also be energy efficient, especially if they don't have external dispensers. It all has to do with the type of compressor and how much insulation was used in making the refrigerator. The easiest way to find out how much energy a refrigerator consumes is to look at the yellow energy guide hanging inside. If the store where you are shopping has removed the energy guides, then ask a sales clerk to look up the energy ratings online for you. If they are not willing to do this, then I suggest you shop elsewhere.

It may not seem like it would make much difference from one model to the next, especially when you're only talking about twenty or thirty dollars a year, but if you purchase all of your appliances with energy star qualified ratings, then the savings can really add up. If the average consumer would change their appliances over from standard models to energy efficient models, then they could save hundreds, even thousands of dollars a year depending on their family size and how much they use their appliances. If you multiply those hundreds or thousands of dollars by the lifetime of the appliances, then you're talking about some really big savings.

It is possible to purchase a Side by Side refrigerator without the ice and water dispenser on the outside, which

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