Refrigerators are the single biggest energy-consuming appliances in most households. Replacing a 10-year old refrigerator bought in 1990 with a new ENERGY STAR© qualified model would save enough energy to light the average household for over three months and eliminate over 300 pounds of pollution each year. Energy efficient refrigerators are also the one category of appliances where prices are low enough to offer consumers an easy choice for picking ENERGY STAR© products over only slightly less expensive conventional competitors. Furthermore, payback on such appliances is very quick-within two years-and the yearly savings on energy use is immediate

The federal government already requires increased efficiency in refrigerators sold after 2001, however, ENERGY STAR© qualified refrigerators can offer even more.

• ENERGY STAR© qualified models use high efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to improve energy efficiency.
• ENERGY STAR© qualified models use at least 10% less energy than required by current federal standards, and 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001 to improve energy efficiency.
• All ENERGY STAR© qualified refrigerators have an automatic defrost feature. Many models include automatic ice-maker and through-the-door ice dispensers. Qualified models are also available with top, bottom, and side-by-side freezers.