- According to the Consumer Energy Center, the refrigerator could be responsible for as much as one sixth of your entire energy bill. Homeowners looking to use the least amount of electricity should check the energy guide when looking at a new model. The lower the number of kilowatts the unit uses, the less the refrigerator will impact your utility bill.
- The average refrigerator can last up to 20 years, according to the Consumer Energy Center, and today's models can use up to 60 percent less energy. If your household is still using one of the older model refrigerators, it could be costing as much as $280 a year to operate. A newer, energy-efficient model could lower that cost to $112 a year.
- Choose a refrigerator with the freezer either on top or bottom of the appliance. This can save 13 percent to 16 percent on energy used as opposed to a side-by-side model. The Consumer Energy Center reports that ice makers and water outlets can increase the electrical usage by as much as 20 percent. In addition, a manual defrost refrigerator can use up to 50 percent less energy, provided you perform the job on a regular basis.