Posted on: June 8, 2011

Hello, Your Refrigerator Is Running... So Stop It

Choose function over style to boost energy savings for the home's hardest-working appliance

By Dawn Klingensmith
CTW Features

There's no off button or sleep mode on a refrigerator. And because a fridge runs constantly, energy efficiency is an important feature for folks concerned about their environmental impact and cost savings.

From Amana to Whirlpool, there are more than two dozen Energy Star-qualified brands. They are trusted names like GE, Kenmore and Frigidaire that each offers dozens of models. Energy Star refrigerators exceed the minimum federal standard for energy efficiency by at least 20 percent.

Unfortunately, the most energy-efficient configurations aren't the trendiest.

"Freezer-on-top is a very energy-efficient design, but most people left those behind in the old apartment when they bought their first home," says certified kitchen designer Peggy Deras of Kitchen Artworks in South San Francisco, Calif.. "French door models are hot. People love the wide-open interiors with lots of flexibility in storage."

However, side-by-side models are "the least efficient refrigerators as a class, probably because they tend to have the largest volume and usually have an icemaker," according to Joe Barrios, author of EcoVillageGreen, an online eco-friendly home product guide.

The most energy-efficient side-by-sides typically use more energy than the least efficient top-freezer models, Barrios says.

On average, top-mounted freezer configurations use 10 to 25 percent less energy than bottom-mounted or side-by-side models, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Generally speaking, the larger the fridge, the more energy it consumes. The most energy-efficient models typically have a capacity of 16 to 20 cubic feet.

Automatic icemakers and through-the-door dispensers increase energy use by 14 to 20 percent. Even though people allow cold air to escape the freezer when using plastic ice trays, making ice "from scratch" is still more efficient than an internal icemaker, according to the EPA.

Today's refrigerators combine eco-friendliness with chic styling. Deras' favorites are Sub-Zero, GE and Jenn-Air.

Green kitchen designer Barbra Bright, also serving the San Francisco Bay Area, prefers Liebherr for its "clean European styling" and "passive cooling system," one of the most efficient on the market. There are two independent air circuits, so air movement can be contained in the fridge compartment for passive cooling. Liebherr units also come with LED lighting as a standard feature.

"It's more efficient and emits less heat," Bright says. "How cool is that?"

Liebherr doesn't just sell green products, the company also is efficient in its operations.

"Their packaging materials are 100 percent recyclable, and they actively seek ways reduce their impact on the environment," Bright says.

When shopping for refrigerators, "I hope a lot of buyers are looking at energy efficiency first," Deras says.

But there are other features as well as new technologies to take into account.

"Of course, there are the usual storage considerations. I prefer a refrigerator with lots of flexibility in its configuration," Deras says. "I don't like to be boxed in by too many specialized drawers and compartments. In my opinion, they just take up too much of the space."

Enclosed glass shelves "are definitely a big plus" because they contain spills, she adds.

Thermador's Freedom line of refrigerators features a motorized Liberty Shelf that adjusts when fully loaded at the touch of a button.

Brands such as Samsung are coming out with refrigerators with built-in computers. Available in June 2011, the Samsung Refrigerator with Apps has an 8-inch LCD touch screen display with Wi-Fi connectivity and "kitchen-relevant" applications like Pandora, Twitter, Epicurious, AP News, Google Calendar, Weatherbug and Picasa Photos. Users can control different aspects of the refrigerator using the LCD display, right down to the shape of the ice.

Those in the market for a new fridge can use the Energy Star savings calculator at energystar.gov to find out how much they'll save by replacing their existing appliance. They also can call the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturer's Recycling Information Center at (800) YES-1-CAN to find out where and how to recycle their old refrigerator.

"Remember, putting that old fridge in the basement or garage means you have the old energy cost, plus the new," Deras says. "It's better to buy a fridge that meets your storage needs and recycle the old energy hog."

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