Refrigerator FAQs

What’s the big deal about energy efficient refrigerators?

It’s simple: refrigerators are the most energy-using domestic major appliance.

If you’re in the market for a new one, you’ll find literally thousands of refrigerators available in a wide range of sizes and configurations.  With so many choices on the U.S. market, finding the best refrigerator for your needs may be daunting.  To help you make the best choice for your family and electricity budget, TopTen took an in-depth look at the market for refrigerators.  The most relevant information is located here, including our criteria for selecting the ten most efficient products.

Where do we get our info?

Energy Star, the Department of Energy, the Consortium for Energy Efficiency and professional trade publications provided valuable information about the refrigerators listed at TopTen.  For a complete bibliography, read How We Evaluate.  Resources are listed at the end of that page.

How do we decide what refrigerators to include?

There are more than 1000 refrigerator models in the ENERGY STAR database, ranging in size from 1.6cu ft to 30 cu ft and using up to 632 kilowatt hours of energy per year.  TopTen included units with internal storage volumes between 14 and 26 cubic feet.  We included top mount, bottom mount, and side-by-side freezer configurations with automatic defrost.  We then separated our list into three size categories:

  • Medium size units (14-17.99 cu. ft.)
  • Full size units (18-22.49 cu. ft.)
  • Large size units (22.5-26 cu. ft.)

Even within these size categories, a larger capacity refrigerator uses more energy than a smaller capacity unit.  The two really can’t compete; so we leveled the playing field within each size category by creating a “progressive efficiency curve”.  (If you ever benefitted from a grading curve in high school, this type of mathematical equation will make sense to you.) 

How do we calculate cost savings? 

Our analysts compared the kilowatt hours TopTen refrigerators used annually over a twelve-year period to the energy used by [NEED SPECIFICS: ENERGY STAR, INDUSTRY AVERAGE?] during the same timeframe. Mulitplying the difference by average electricity costs provided our savings figures.

Do I have to go to a specialty store to find refrigerators listed on TopTen?

TopTen refrigerators are available at big-box department stores and home goods stores such as Sears, Home Depot, and Lowe’s, along with local and regional independent stores.  Products are also available online.

Will I pay premium prices for energy refrigerators?

  • Retail prices for medium refrigerators on the TopTen list range from $499-$969
  • Retail prices for full-size refrigerators on the TopTen list range from $879-$1499
  • Retail prices for large refrigerators on the TopTen list range from $1209- $3199 

What makes a refrigerator energy efficient?

Energy efficient refrigerators incorporate various improvements over older models, including: efficient lighting, better insulation, and individually temperature controlled compartments.