Greener Fridge |
Published by Green by Design under Kitchen
Refrigerators run around the clock, making them a continual energy drain. When looking for a fridge we should take some time to find one that is efficient. Sometimes this may not be the easiest task, so I will alleviate some of the guess work.
To find out first hand what an appliance customer service rep would say, I started off by going to my local big box store to see what was available and ask some questions. I was hoping to get more information than, “The Energy Star fridges are the most efficient”.
Then I asked about quality, as I was looking at only a few brand names it was couple easy questions and answers. “GE is our ‘good’, Maytag / Amana is our ‘better’ and LG is the ‘best’.”
Design was the third element to look at. With five different fridge layouts I wanted to know what customers were interested in. “The French door is becoming the new favorite for customers” commented the sales rep. With a brochure in hand and some helpful advice my next trek was back to the Internet for stats and other comparisons.
Most Energy Star fridges are 20% more efficient then the federal standard, though a few stood out at the top. Sun Frost RF-12 model is the best performer at 51% better than the federal standard. Sun Frost is the brand to look for if your top priority is only having the greenest fridge. They have several models with a few that run on AC and DC power and are a great choice for the off grid customer.
When adding design and features to the mix the top fridges came from Miele, LG and Frigidaire with Kenmore and Sub-Zero rounding out the mix.
The Miele Independence Series 30-inch bottom freezer came in at 33% more efficient.
Editor’s Pick — LG’s 25 cu. ft. LFX25980 French door bottom freezer with plenty of space and nice design was priced at around $3200 and 31% efficient. The bonus with LG is that it is available through many big box stores. As several of the other models mentioned on the list are not always easy to find, even on the Internet.
Frigidaire won in the price category with a plain top freezer design and 33% higher efficiency and for only $650. This is a clear winner when you need to stay on budget.
Side-by-side refrigerators had no shining stars. The best was an older Kenmore model that that was at 23%.
If you are looking for a small compact fridge, look at the Energy Star label and try to stay below 250 kWh. The best was a Sub-Zero at 207 kwh.
COMPARISONS
Bottom Freezer
| Brand | Model | Cu.Ft. | Better | Approx.Price | Notes |
| Miele | KF1801Vi | 14.86 | 33% | $6500+ | |
| LG | LFD21870 | 20.5 | 31% | $3500 | Counter Depth |
| LG | LFD25870 | 24.7 | 31% | $3200 | French Door |
| Kenmore | 7771 and 7772 | 20.7 | 27% | $2500 | French Door |
| Sub-Zero | BI-30U | 16.85 | 27% | N/A | Brand new model |
Top Freezer
| Brand | Model | Cu.Ft. | Better | Price | Notes |
| Sun Frost | RF-12 | 10.12 | 51% | $2200 | Only 171kWh/year |
| Sun Frost | RF-16 | 14.31 | 36% | $2700 | |
| Frigidaire | FRT18HP7J | 18.34 | 33% | $650 | Best Price |
| Frigidaire | 970-40982 | 18.2 | 28% | n/a |
Others
| Brand / Model | Configuration | Cu.Ft. | Better |
| Sun Frost / RF-19 | Refrigerator Only – Single Door | 16.14 | 53% |
| Sub-Zero / 700BR / UC24R0 | Refrigerator Only – Compact | 5.27 / 5.67 | 52% / 46% |
| Gaggeneau / RF411700 | Upright Freezer | 8.37 | 43% |
| Bosch / B30IR70 | Refrigerator Only – Single Door | 17.05 | 36% |
| Bosch / B18IF70 | Upright Freezer | 8.37 | 34% |
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If you truly want to go “Green” when it comes to refrigeration, you would practice the old process of fermentation. Here’s an excerpt from The Maker’s Diet by Jordan S. Rubin:
“I once heard a man say that the creation of the refrigerator is one of the worst inventions for our health. Before artificial refrigeration, fermentation was the “poor man’s” refrigeration to preserve his food in a healthy way. Few Americans from urban and suburban areas know anything about preserving food in this way. Most of the people in the world–including people of Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and various Third World and emerging nations–still depend on fermentation to preserve foods and to protect them from dangerous organisms in other foods and drinks.”
I haven’t thrown my fridge out…yet, but that definitely would be the ideal eco-friendly ‘green’ thing to do. Now if only I could find a way to preserve my gelato…
fermenting for food preservation is green, yes, and can also be quite healthful. but in the case of pickling, say, these fermented foods are often very high in sodium. i don’t know which is better for the environment: visiting local markets and groceries for daily produce (s. america, asia, europe, africa…), or once-a-week shopping and refrigerating. in the average american suburb, it’s unlikely for a market to be within walking distance. this means driving more often if you want the freshest ingredients. frankly, i’m very pleased at the slowing of the building boom which pushes suburbs further and further out. this means more people in a smaller area, inside the city, which translates to better public transportation and services in general, fewer big box stores, and a more proactive community base. but i digress…
For some of us, fermented (especially pickled) foods cause migraines, so the refrigerator is a necessary evil. Using the most efficient refrigerator possible is the next best step.
Unfortunately, the “Editor’s Choice” fridge is one of the LG fridges that’ve had their energy star rating revoked!
The LG french door was very beautiful (discontinued now, in 2009). The flat shelves with the silver finish and the LED lights was awesome, as well as the self close door and alarm! But even though you get the benefit of a tilt out freezer, it was a real jaw-dropping $3100.