Right Size Your Appliance

Newer refrigerators, freezers and window air conditioners cost much less to operate than older units.  For example, replacing a 20-year-old 18 cubic feet refrigerator with a new Energy Star™ refrigerator will result in an annual energy cost savings of about $130.  At this rate, the savings will pay for the cost of the new refrigerator in five to seven years.

If you're planning to buy a new refrigerator or freezer please consider these Energy Efficiency Tips:

Choose the right size!

The larger the appliance the more electricity it will use so consider the number of people that will be using the appliance.

• One or two people - 340L or 12 cubic feet

• Three or four people - 395 to 480L or 14 to 17 cubic feet

• Each additional person - add 55L or 2 cubic feet

Configuration Counts

Top freezer models are the most efficient, followed by bottom freezers, with side-by-side models being the least efficient.

Look for the ENERGY STAR^®

ENERGY STAR^® symbol is a simple way for you to identify products that are among the most energy-efficient on the market. Only manufacturers and retailers whose products meet the ENERGY STAR^® criteria can label their products with this symbol.  Find out more about qualified ENERGY STAR^® products at www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/energystar

Look for a low EnerGuide rating

The EnerGuide label is a tool to help you make an energy-wise choice when buying a new appliance. It shows how much energy appliances consume in a year of normal service and makes it easy to compare the energy efficiency of each model to others of the same size and class.

When shopping for a new appliance look for a low EnerGuide rating.  Find out about EnerGuide at: www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/energuide