Energy Savings and Your Refrigerator
The Dollar Stretcher
by Gary Foreman

Depending on the age of your fridge and how you use it, you may be paying considerably more to keep yours running.

You use it all day, every day. And modern life would be impossible without it. The Energy Information Administration estimates that Americans spent $12 billion dollars to operate this appliance each year. Yes, it's that big box in your kitchen that keeps things cold - the refrigerator.  According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, a refrigerator costs between $55 and $175 per year to run. A new fridge will consume over $1,100 in electricity during it's lifetime. It uses more energy than your washing machine, clothes dryer or electric stove. About 15 percent of a home's total energy usage. And depending on the age of your fridge and how you use it, you may be paying considerably more to keep yours running.

Before we look at tips for buying a new refrigerator, let's look at some simple things you can do to keep the one you already have running efficiently. First, there's no need to keep your refrigerator too cold. The fresh food section should be 37 degrees F. and 5 degrees F. for the frozen section. It's a good idea to take your fridge's temperature periodically. That's easy to do with a regular thermometer. For the fresh food section just put the thermometer in a glass of water and set it in the unit overnight. For the frozen section, set the thermometer between two frozen packages and wait a few hours.  Check the door seals periodically. It's easy for them to get pinched. That will allow the cold air to escape. Look for any places where the seal might be misshapen. Also look for areas where the fridge is 'sweating' near the seal.

To test how well a seal is working take a piece of paper and close the door with the paper half in and half out of the fridge. With the door closed try pulling the paper out. If it pulls out easily you'll need to adjust or replace the seal. For most units it's a do-it-yourself type job that only requires a screw driver. You can buy new gaskets from the manufacturer or from a store that sells parts to repairmen.

The way you store your food inside makes a difference, too. Try not to leave uncovered food and drink in your fridge. They'll release moisture. The compressor will work harder to remove that moisture. And your food will also dry out if left uncovered.  

Take a vacuum and clean your coils at least once a year. Dirt prevents the coils from evaporating the heat efficiently. Ten minutes of work will save you a little bit each month.

And, don't keep that old fridge running in the garage. If you really need a second unit it will be cheaper to replace it with a newer, more energy friendly unit.  Fortunately, if you have an older fridge, we have good news for you. 
Newer refrigerators are much more energy efficient. One made today would use about 33% of the energy a 1975 model would consume.

Before you go shopping for a new refrigerator you'll need to determine the proper size. The average family of two requires about 10 cubic feet. They'll need an extra 1 to 2 cubic feet per additional family member. Remember that this is a trade-off. A smaller fridge will cost less to operate. But a larger one will provide more room for storage if you stock up on sales. It's also cheaper to operate one large refrigerator compared to two smaller ones.

A survey done by the U.S. Dept. of Energy indicates that during the 90's families migrated to larger refrigerators. By 1997 46% owned fridges of 19 cubic feet or larger. That's a 12% increase from 1990.  Freezer needs are much harder to estimate. So much depends on how your family shops and cooks. The basic requirement is about 2 cubic feet per family member. But if you like to buy meats on sale or do any bulk cooking that might not be enough.

When shopping remember that there are four ways that a refrigerator's design can save money. Better insulation means that the cold air stays inside and hot air outside. More efficient compressors create more cold air per kilowatt hour of electricity. Better cooling coils allow the unit to shed the heat that's removed from inside. And more precise thermostats control temperature and defrost cycles more efficiently. So look for design features that will maximize these savings.

The style you choose can make an energy difference. Top freezer models use 
about 10% less energy than similar sized side-by-side models. Through the 
door dispensers will increase energy use by about 15%. One popular feature 
that's wise to avoid is the 'anti-sweat' heater. It will add 10% to the amount of energy consumed. A properly insulated refrigerator won't have a problem sweating.

Look for the EnergyGuide label when you're shopping. It shows the annual cost to operate that particular model. It's a great way to compare units. Picking the best model could be a real cost saver. It's possible to save $1,000 in electricity over the life of the fridge. The refrigerator is something that no modern home can be without. And, it really is amazing that you can buy a box that will keep your foods cold for less than $100 per year. A century ago our great-grandparents 
would have found that astounding!

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