Choosing a new fridge

• The introduction of energy efficiency labels in recent years makes choosing more energy efficient fridge models relatively easy. It is important to check energy labels before buying newer fridge products as newer models can save up to 75% of energy than models made before 2001. However, if you own an old fridge and are deciding whether to change your fridge before it stops working, it can be a tough decision as savings will differ depending on the age, electricity costs and size and type of the fridge. For this, it is worth considering that as the costs of electricity continue to rise, the savings on replacing fridges with more energy efficient models will continue to increase.
• If buying second hand, it is also important to consider that newer refrigerator models are a lot more energy efficient than older models. It is also important to remember that in recent years, the energy labelling system has been upgraded, so newer models with the same number of stars as an older model are likely to be more efficient.
• Research before buying new products to ensure that you decide on the most energy efficient option that will suit your needs. This can help to save money, especially in the long term. For example, using a 3 star 500 litre capacity fridge compared to a 1 star model of the same capacity can save you $55/year. Good product information is available online and products can be compared using the energy rating websitehttp://www.energyrating.gov.au/.
• Try and choose a size of fridge that best accommodates you. Larger fridges will use more energy, however overall one larger fridge might be more energy efficient than running two fridges. Again, checking energy labels will help to choose the most efficient option.
• Measuring the space the fridge will be sitting in before buying is important to ensure that there will be adequate ventilation provided for the new model.
• Automatic ice makers and anti-sweat features will increase energy consumption by up to 20%, so avoiding models with these features can save a lot in energy costs.
• Chest freezers are generally more energy efficient than upright freezers.
• Refrigeration units with the freezer on top are the most energy efficient units to buy. Side-by-side refrigerators consume approximately 12 % more energy than units with the freezer on top and models with a bottom freezer fall between the two.
• Solar powered refrigerators which run from roof solar panels are long term energy savers and can be regarded as the overall most efficient refrigerators.