The Many Benefits of an Energy Star Fridge

Thanks to new advancements will in refrigerator technology, fridges today are a lot more efficient than their older predecessors. An Energy Star qualified refrigerator allows you to minimize your energy usage and thereby save a lot of money on your energy bills. Being energy Star compliant means that a refrigerator uses 20% less electricity than the minimum standards set by the federal government for energy efficiency.

But you don't have to sacrifice all those wonderful refrigerator features that you really want, just to get an Energy Star label. A great example of this is a Samsung fridge, which boasts just about every advanced feature on the market even though they are Energy Star compliant. Refrigerator makers today have learned that the best way to make money is to sell the most energy-efficient model that they possibly can.

Save money on your power bills - You can save $160 or more on your energy bills (over the lifetime of the refrigerator) simply by choosing an Energy Star certified model.

Environmental protection - Less electricity burned means less fossil fuel burned to generate electricity. With over 70% of American electricity generated by non-renewable resources, an Energy Star refrigerator can help you to protect the environment.

Replace your old-style refrigerator - A fridge from the 1980s will burn over 100 extra dollars per year, which you can save by replacing it with a model that meets Energy Star standards. Getting rid of a 1970s-era fridge will save you even more -- $200 a year!

Get the freezer on top. You can also save an additional 10 to 25% in energy costs by selecting a fridge model with the freezer located on top. Side-by-side models, or bottom-mounted freezers, always consume more energy.

Choose a smaller fridge size. The larger your refrigerator is, the less efficient it is. As far as energy efficiency is concerned, the optimal refrigerator size between 16 and 20 cubic feet.

Skip the icemaker. By making ice the old-fashioned way, you can save an additional 14 to 20% on your refrigerator's energy consumption. As an additional incentive, you can also save anywhere from $75-$250 on the original purchase price as well.

Keep your fridge cool. Even though this tip sounds a bit odd, it will make a big difference to the efficiency of your refrigerator. Keep it away from sources of heat, like an oven or dishwasher, or even a window with direct sunlight.