ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators require about half as much energy as a 10-year old models. ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators provide energy savings without sacrificing the features you want.

ENERGY STAR qualified models use high efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to improve energy efficiency.

Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. Refrigerators are the single biggest energy consumer 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 over 300 pounds of pollution each year.

Purchasing Tips

• Choose the right size refrigerator for your household needs. If two refrigerators of a different size use the same amount of energy, the larger model is usually more efficient. The larger unit keeps more space cold with the same amount of electricity.

• Consider buying a model with a top freezer. Top freezer models use 7-13% less energy than side-by-side models.

• Consider doing without an ice-maker and dispenser. Automatic ice-makers and through-the-door dispensers increase energy use by 14-20% and raise the purchase price by about $75-250.

• Models with an anti-sweat heater consume 5-10% more energy. Look for a model that has an "energy saver" switch that turns off or turns down the heating coils.

• The most energy-efficient models are 16-20 cubic feet. Generally, the larger the refrigerator, the greater the energy consumption. Too large a model will waste space and energy; too small a model could mean extra trips to the store.

• Check the yellow EnergyGuide label to determine how much energy is used to operate the model, compare the energy use of similar models, and approximate annual operating costs.

• Ask for an ENERGY STAR model. When buying a refrigerator from a contractor, request an ENERGY STAR qualified model to ensure it is energy efficient.

• Manual defrost models use half the energy of automatic defrost models but must be defrosted periodically to realize energy savings.

Look for an ENERGY STAR® Refrigerator!

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