The Most Energy Efficient Refrigerators

When it comes to buying a refrigerator, most people aren't worried about whether or not the model they buy will keep food cool. The technology has been basically the same for decades, so any working refrigerator keeps food cool, and cold spots are much less common in recent models. The best refrigerators are judged on their reliability, features, and energy efficiency, as well as size and convenience. There are lots of options on the market, and it can be tricky to find the one you really need, however. Let's take a look at what makes a refrigerator really energy efficient, and some of the tradeoffs in features and size that come with that.

It's important to buy a refrigerator that fits your needs. That's why many manufacturers recommend that you get the biggest one that will fit in your space. However, there's more to it than that. The amount of space you're cooling will have an effect on the energy efficiency of your unit. The best refrigerators will be the right size for your family, without being packed full (uses extra power and cools unevenly) or echoingly empty (no one wants to cool an empty space).

People who buy a lot of fresh produce or cool a lot of soda may want a larger refrigerator, while those who live alone or in small households may want a smaller one. In general, the most energy efficient refrigerators have sixteen to twenty cubic feet of capacity, and larger ones are much more likely to consume a lot of energy. However, that pales in comparison to the amount you lose by using an old refrigerator.

Even the biggest new fridges usually score better on efficiency than an old one. A fridge made before the early 1990s may cost you over a hundred dollars to operate every year - compare that to about $50 for a new Energy Star model and you'll see why you need to upgrade. Many features on new Energy Star certified fridges can help you save extra money, too. However, some of them will cost you. For instance, while automatic ice makers and through the door ice and water dispensers are really popular features, they raise purchase prices by one to three hundred dollars, increase energy use by up to twenty percent, and require a lot more repairs. That means that if you're interested in the best refrigerators from an efficiency stand point, this popular feature is right out.

There are some other things about the type of refrigerator and efficiency that might surprise you, too. Bottom freezer refrigerators are getting a lot more popular, since they bring the most used space up to you, but they also use a lot more energy. A traditional top mounted freezer model uses ten to twenty-five percent less energy than either a bottom freezer type or a "French door" side-by-side freezer model. You also get more storage space out of the traditional type, and can purchase narrower fridges for smaller spaces.

High end models, including built in refrigerators and refrigerator drawers, offer convenience and attractive looks, but are significantly lower on usable space and have even lower efficiency than side by side or bottom freezer types. They're also pretty pricey, so they're not the best refrigerators for someone on a budget. Cabinet depth refrigerators are cheaper and a compromise between built ins and free standing models, but they're also quite shallow and compromise on efficiency.