Buying a New Refrigerator
Some tips to keep in mind when shopping for a new refrigerator:
 If you're in the market, look for an Energy Star® label to identify the more energy-efficient models.
Call your electric company to see if it gives rebates on high-efficiency models. Remember to ask what the requirements are for the rebate.
Keep in mind that models where the refrigerator and the freezer are side-by-side use more energy than the ones with the freezer on top. Designer built-in fridges can use more energy too.
A good rule of thumb is the larger the model, the more energy it uses.The most efficient models tend to be in the 16-20 cubic feet range. But be reasonable. If you have a family of 12 it makes more sense to buy a larger model rather than going to the store 3 times a day to fill a smaller one.
Some energy draining features on refrigerator/freezers are the automatic icemakers and water/ice dispensers on the outside of the door. Automatic defrosters use more electricity than manual ones, but only if you defrost the manual ones regularly. Otherwise you're using more energy once the coils ice up. Plus, it is getting pretty hard to find manual defrosters now, so automatic defrosters may be for you.
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