from Linda in Hales Corners, WI:
#836
Is there a great savings between an 11 year old refrigerator and a new one?
Today's refrigerators use much less energy than older models
New refrigerators and freezers are dramatically more efficient than old models – even when the old models operate perfectly. In addition, since refrigerant wears out and seals start to leak, refrigerator and freezer performance tends to degrade over time. While the exact energy use depends on your particular model number, on average refrigerators that are 10 years old or older could cost over $100 each year to operate!
Thanks to recent improvements in insulation and compressors, today's refrigerators use much less energy than older models. With an ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator, you can maximize your energy and dollar savings without sacrificing the features you want.
If you know the model number of your refrigerator or freezer, you may want to use the ENERGY STAR Refrigerator Retirement Savings Calculator to get a better idea of the relative operating cost of your current model in comparison to a new ENERGY STAR qualified model. While this tool may not include every model ever made, it does include data for a very large number of refrigerators and freezers.
Published Tuesday, June 22, 2010