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Old 06-16-10, 03:27 PM   #1
TimJFowler
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Lightbulb Kill your (old) Fridge

Thanks to a $200 state appliance rebate program (and $30 utility rebate) I've upgraded our refrigerator to a 2010 Energy Star model. Thanks to my Kill-A-Watt, I've measured how much electricity we are no longer wasting.

I was able to recycle a 1990's vintage refrigerator we have in a rental property. We swapped a 2002 fridge to the rental and put the new Energy Star fridge in our home. Other than age, each of the three refrigerators was comparable with a top-mounted freezer, 16 to 18 cubic feet and no ice-maker. I tried to keep operating conditions similar for the comparison, although my test favored the oldest fridge as I never opened the door during the test.

Refrigerator Energy Use Comparison

1990 Fridge: 4.62 kW·h / 26.7166 hours = 0.1729 kW·h/hour = 4.15 kW·h/day
= 1514.83 kW·h/year

2002 Fridge: 1.54 kW·h / 40 hours = 0.0385 kW·h/hour = 0.924 kW·h/day
= 337.26 kW·h/year (77.7% less energy use than 1990 fridge)

2010 Energy Star(+) Fridge: 1.36 kW·h / 48 hours = 0.02833 kW·h/hour = 0.68 kW·h/day
= 248.2 kW·h/year (26.4% less energy use than 2002 fridge)

Notes:
  • Energy Star(+). We chose a fridge that was 30% more efficient than the federal standard (the Energy Star requirement is 20% more efficient than the standard).
  • Turn the 'Cool' knob down. At the default thermostat setting the 2010 Energy Star Fridge used slightly more electricity than the 2002 fridge. I noticed that lettuce on the bottom shelf was freezing, so I adjusted the thermostat a few notches warmer and the energy use went down measurably.

I've written a longer article here: Kill Your (old) Refrigerator | EcoDaddyo.com

FYI,
Tim

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Last edited by TimJFowler; 12-01-10 at 01:22 PM.. Reason: update link
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Old 06-16-10, 08:37 PM   #2
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Wow, thats quite the step forward. I've been meaning to measure my fridge lately. I just keep forgetting.
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Old 06-18-10, 02:50 PM   #3
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Wow, that '90's fridge was a hog. It's hard to believe how much refrigerators have changed in only a few years. If only car companies could increase fuel efficiency fourfold in a decade...

EDIT: I've had my fridge on the Kill-a-Watt for the last 2.5 weeks and I just had a look: 11.65 kWh in 400.1 hours.
11.65kWh/400.1h=0.029 kWh per hour = 0.70 kWh/day = 255 kWh/year.
You beat me, Tim
It's been hot recently, so the temperature in the kitchen is around 21-22°C. The kitchen temperature in the winter (exept when cooking/baking) is 18-19°C, so maybe then I'll use slightly less.
The brand is ARDO, model CO 2210 SHX, rated at 256 kWh/year = 0.70 kWh/day.

EDIT: Added more data (model, etc.).

EDIT (04-04-2011): A recent test showed that lower kitchen temperatures (16°C-19°C) reduce the fridge's power consumption to 0.54-0.59 kWh/day.

Last edited by Piwoslaw; 04-04-11 at 03:39 AM.. Reason: Added fridge data
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Old 06-22-10, 02:11 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Piwoslaw View Post
Wow, that '90's fridge was a hog. It's hard to believe how much refrigerators have changed in only a few years. If only car companies could increase fuel efficiency fourfold in a decade...
No joke there. I was stunned / disgusted at how much power the '90's fridge used. The problem is that fridges tend to last a long time and there is no obvious sign that they waste a lot of power.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Piwoslaw View Post
You beat me, Tim
Well, a new fridge beat an older fridge. I should check back in a year to see if the 2010 fridge maintains this level of efficiency.

I've now got a mid '90's vintage 27" CRT Television plugged into the Kill-A-Watt. I'm curious to see how much power the old TV is eating.

Tim
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Old 08-31-10, 03:25 AM   #5
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We have refrigerator in our house and we are really shock every time they will give us a monthly electric bill. We wonder why it was too high. Then we realize that refrigerator is the reason. So now, we don't use our refrigerator and other appliances.

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