There is a whole jargon that define aspects of energy efficiency. Words like: dual fuel for heating appliances, U-Factor for windows and doors, and other like Initial Solar Reflectance. You’re probably wondering what all of these mean and how does it make your home more energy efficient? As always, GreenOhm is here to explain everything you need to know about the basics of energy efficiency!
Refrigerators and Freezers
They keep our food fresh and keep us happy when we’re searching for a quick cold snack in the summer. Younger units will of course be more energy efficient. But what do all these terms mean when buying a refrigerator/freezer? Below are some common terms you should look for when buying a new unit:
The Energy Star designation is awarded to appliances that use 20-30% less energy than federal standards. This designation originated in the U.S. in 1992 and since then it has been adopted by other countries. It is estimated that the average household saves about $1,200 throughout the lifetime of an Energy Star appliance! Other benefits relating to energy star include lower water usage and less greenhouse gas emissions by reduced energy demand. Visit the Energy Star website for a list of Energy Star products!
The CEE Tier
Sometimes, in addition to meeting Energy Star requirements, more energy efficient units are placed into tiers created by the Consortium of Energy Efficiency (we will discuss the CEE in later blog post). For refrigerator units, the three tiers specified by the CEE are the following:
High-efficiency specifications for REFRIGERATORS
Auto or Manual Defrost?
This applies to freezer and refrigerators with a freezer. This literally means that in a manual defrost unit, the owner must manually defrost the freezer. While an auto defrost unit uses more energy by using heat to defrost the unit, a manual defrost unit also has its issues. A manual defrost unit requires the owner to remove the ice to avoid damages to the unit. If the unit is not properly defrosted, the build up of ice on the coils prevents proper airflow and reduces the unit’s efficiency.
You also want an ice maker?
For some, ice makers are a nice perk to your refrigerator unit. Although, ice maker capabilities add about 12-20% more energy consumption per unit.
Does it matter where the freezer is on the refrigerator?
Size?
The bigger the unit, the more energy it will use but it also depends on the age and the amount of space your food occupies.
Other factors include the color and brand of your unit, but that’s all up to you. Maybe you’ll want a rad new pink or green refrigerator! I don’t know if those still exist… the only colors I have seen are: black, white, and silver. Looking to purchase a new unit? Check out models from our friends at Bosch and Abt.
Further Reading:
Interested in learning more about the features of refrigerators? Check out the links below:
http://oikos.com/esb/31/refrigerator.html
http://housewares.about.com/od/refrigeratorsfreezers/bb/bybrefrigerator.htm
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/refrigerators/buying-guide.htm
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