February 6, 2010 Harry Applin
Officials in New York state, which is receiving almost $19 million, have put together the New York's Great Appliance Swap Out program. They are also studying whether to require a trade-in component or recycling, said a spokeswoman for the New York Energy Research and Development Authority - NYSERDA. New York's Great Appliance Swap Out will offer rebates to consumers who energy-efficient refrigerators, clothes washers, freezers and dishwashers; the rebate is even larger when those customers recycle their older, inefficient models. Rebates for the high-efficiency appliances will usually range from $50-$105 for a single unit, and possibly up to $555 for the purchase of a three-appliance package. New York is doing the program in February, offering $75 for refrigerators and washers, $50 for freezers.
According to the 2007 EnergyStar study, New York State's average kilowatt-hour electric rate about 65% higher than the national average, and more expensive than other state in the nation except for Connecticut and Hawaii. About 14% of the average American household electricity usage in 2001 was used by refrigerators making this appliance a major electricity consumer.
So why replace your old refrigerator? First you should check the age on your current model and if it is from the 70s, it is a good candidate for replacement. You could save four times more energy by replacing it with an ENERGYSTAR model totaling nearly $200 a year. The same goes for a 80's model. If you replace it with an ENERGY STAR refrigerator and you should see a drop in your utility bill of about $100 each year.
When looking for a new refrigerator, consider a few features that make a huge difference to its energy efficiency. The typical top-mounted freezers use 10 - 25 percent less energy than bottom-mounted or side-by-side models. This can add up to hundreds of dollars over the lifetime of the refrigerator. Also, skip the ice-maker and door dispenser. Ice-makers increase energy use by 14 - 20 percent and they also raise the retail price by $75 - 250. Through the door ice dispensers often interfere with the door's insulation and in some cases require their own additional cooling elements which will add to the energy bills over their lifetime.
Starting in July 2001, the energy standards went into effect. Since then all 15 cubic foot top-freezer refrigerator (with no through-the-door ice or water features) were required to have an energy rating of no more than 450 kilowatt-hours per year, a similarly featured 18 cubic foot model should have a rating of under 485 kilowatt-hours per year, and a 22 cubic foot refrigerator needed to have a rating of less than 535 kilowatt-hours per year. So if your refrigerator is a 18 cubic feet and is rated at 1200 watts, you could save 715 kilowatt-hours per year in electricity.
Pay attention to the Energy Guide. Make sure that there is an EnergyStar label on the product. This is the reference that you can use to compare savings. EnergyStar refrigerators are up to 20 percent more energy efficient than conventional models. You can check how much a particular ENERGYSTAR model will cost you per year by looking at the yellow EnergyGuide label on the refrigerator. The guide also allows you to compare the energy use of similar models and estimate the annual savings.
Here are seven rules of thumb that can help make your purchase of a new refrigerator from being a drain on your pocketbook:
1. Don't buy a refrigerator bigger than you need. Choose a model that has 10 cubic feet of food storage for a family of two and then add an extra cubic foot for each additional person.
2. Side-by-side refrigerator/freezers use more energy than refrigerators with the freezer above the fresh food compartment.
3. Side-by-sides refrigerator/freezer take up more space for the same storage volume as a standard refrigerator.
4. Through-the-door features, like cold water or automatic ice dispensers, use almost 20 percent more electricity compared to similar models without these extras.
5. Manual defrost models use less energy than automatic defrost units, consuming as much as one-third less. If you live in a low humidity area, these are worth looking at. You should defrost the freezer when 1/4 inch of frost has built up.
6. Two refrigerators use more electricity than a single large refrigerator with equivalent storage space. Also a half full refrigerator will use more electricity than full space.
7. Recycle old refrigerators. Don't pass on an energy hog to someone else.
8. Look for the Energy Star label. Use the label to help find a good compromise between size, efficiency and cost.
If you are keeping your refrigerator use these tips to keep it running at peak efficiency:
1. Keep your refrigerator at 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Position your refrigerator away from a heat source such as an oven, a dishwasher, or direct sunlight from a window.
3. Leave a few inches between the wall and the refrigerator.
4. Keep the condenser coils clean if you have an older model.
5. Make sure the refrigerator seals around the door are airtight. Use the dollar bill test on the door gaskets, if the bill slips past the gaskets easily, replace them.
6. Minimize the amount of time the refrigerator door is open. Cold air falls to the floor each time the doors are opened.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=refrig.calculator