You always see that boring reminder on lists of how to go green: buy Energy Star appliances. Does this resonate with anyone? Most appliances have Energy Star Ratings — you see the little yellow sticker that estimates the number of kilowatt hours per year the appliance will use, and maybe an estimated cost – but does that mean anything to anyone? Well, it should, because that shows the ongoing cost of actually owning and using the appliance, and there are big differences among products out there.
The basic tip is to just make sure the appliance you are buying in Energy Star rated, because it will save you money over time and is better than the alternative. But I’m focusing specifically on refrigerators, because they are the biggest energy-hogging appliance in the home (bigger energy uses are heating, cooling, water heating, and lighting).
Replacing a large appliance like a refrigerator does not seem like the greenest thing to do. It seems like a waste of many materials to junk an old one, right? It starts to get difficult to compare “greenness” when you have to compare ongoing energy usage that is 70% powered by coal versus junking an appliance and using energy to recycle it, part it out, or send it to the landfill. That’s why I like to stick to comparing the financials – another type of green that most of us can understand.
So, depending on the model of the old refrigerator, you can save between $100-$200 per year on energy costs alone. Using the Energy Star’s refrigerator calculator, you can calculate your savings (you just have to know the cost you pay per kilowatt hour, which is about 9 cents in Minneapolis). Their estimates are pretty reliable because the refrigerator is always on (unlike light bulbs). If a new refrigerator costs in the $700-$800 range (I found an Energy Star fridge on Amazon, but I’m not sure that’s where I’d get a fridge), it pays for itself in 3-8 years. Not a bad financial return. Plus, you get what is sure to be a quieter, better-looking fridge!
Side note: Our utility company, Xcel Energy, will even hall away your old one for free, and give you a $35 check.