consumer in a standard sized house? It can be burning up to 20 percent of the total power you will use in one year. In October 1999 the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) were put into place. This sets minimum efficiency levels for refrigerators and freezers, thus eliminating the worst performers from the sales market. Even stronger MEPS guidelines were put in force on January 1, 2005. Also using the Energy Stars as a tool to choose a refrigerator is a helpful guide to saving on your electric bill. New models that are Energy Star qualified are extremely energy efficient and well worth the cost. Though despite the MEPS ratings, there can be a huge difference between the best and worst refrigerators for energy consumption. In today’s market there is a large selection of frost free refrigerators and they all have new features to make them more efficient for your family. It is important to learn the difference between the various models so you can choose one that is perfect for your family and home. Pay close attention to the energy guide label, this will show you the estimated energy consumption and estimated yearly operating cost based on a national average cost of electricity.
When shopping you must also choose the right size. Measure where it will be going and buy accordingly. Make sure a new model will fit through your existing doorways. Remember that the depth listed usually does not include the door and make sure the doors can be removed at delivery, if necessary. Refrigerators also come with different square feet of inside storage space. To judge how much storage space you need, determine the amount of cubic feet you have now, then decide if you need more, less or the same amount. Generally, the larger the refrigerator the more power it will consume but considering you are replacing an older model, it may not use as much power as the one you have now and you get more storage space. If you do not keep your refrigerator more than two thirds full then you need a smaller one. Empty space costs money to cool so it is not energy wise to have a refrigerator that is too large. On the other hand, a small refrigerator that you keep full and it still does not hold everything you need, is not wise either. You spend more time with the door open searching for what you need
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and rearranging contents and, to top it off, you have to make more trips to the grocery store because it does not hold enough. So you see why it is important to buy the storage space you actually need. Be careful to examine the inside of each refrigerator/freezer you are considering because the cubic square footage that is listed on the tag is not necessarily the amount of storage space that you can actually use.
Different Types of Refrigerators
Top-freezer refrigerators are the standard since the beginning of electric home refrigerators. This traditional style usually has the most storage space and larger shelves for the money and they are the least expensive. Their standard depth is 25”–33”. The biggest con is the fact that you have to bend down to search on the bottom shelf and open the bottom drawers.
Bottom-freezer refrigerators’ popularity is on the rise. These are convenient for households that do not open the freezer often. Meaning the lower shelves and drawers of the refrigerator are no longer at the very bottom. Also, having the freezer at the bottom is more energy efficient because it is under the refrigerator and helps keep it cool. The other style of a bottom-freezer refrigerator contains side-by-side doors, more commonly called French doors on this type. Their standard depth is also 25”–33”. The cons for this type are the fact that you have to bend to retrieve items from the freezer and it is sometimes difficult to find a model like this with an in-door ice and water dispenser. Side-by-side refrigerators are
very popular also, especially for small kitchen spaces. The freezer side is typically smaller than the refrigerator side and these are most likely to come with in-door ice and water dispensers. The freezer usually has more usable storage space than the two listed above but the refrigerator width cannot accommodate wide items such as pizza boxes and the like. Their standard depth is 25”–33” as well. Also with tall and narrow shelving it is not easy to see or reach items in the back. Built-in refrigerators can be more pricey than the models listed above. They are installed to be flush or almost flush
Photo courtesy of Subzero
Photo courtesy of Subzero
Photo courtesy of GE 69
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