Fridges and freezers are perhaps the biggest energy leeches in a typical person’s house, and they aren’t cheap electrical appliances to begin with. The good news is, if you are buying a new fridge, there are plenty of energy efficient ones on the market.
First though, you need to get rid of the old fridge so you can make some room. Websites such as Freecycle.org and Craigslist.org are a great way to pass on appliances that can still be used. While giving your white goods to others is better than abandoning them in an empty lot, in my opinion, the older appliances aren’t as beneficial to the environment and should just be recycled. If you are purchasing new electrical appliances, most places, according to the WEEE directive, will pick up and transport your old white goods to the nearest recycling plant.
Now, lets get the new energy labels for fridge freezers explained. Appliances with an A rating aren’t the top grade any more. In case you don’t know, the EU has introduced three new energy grades for appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and refrigerators, which are: “A+”, “A++”, and “A+++”. Right now, the A+ and A++ grades are in use for fridges and freezers, with the triple plus (1984 reference here) coming in 2011.
These grades are specific to each class of white goods. In terms of how much energy you save, you can’t compare a washing machine like, say, the Beko WME8227W, which has an A for energy efficiency, with a refrigerator like the Hotpoint HMB3312AAI, which has an A+.
However, comparing two different freezer fridges with similar capacities, like a Bosch KGV36x10 (A++) and an Indesit BAN12NFS (A), is fine and means that the Bosch can be close to 60% more efficient than the Indesit model. An A+ grade would make a fridge around 25% more efficient than the Indesit.
Keep in mind that chest freezers are an exception and will have a C rating because they require more energy for their bigger size.
There are many factors that contribute to the right refrigerator for your needs, but energy efficiency should be the starting point on your quest. Hopefully this quick post helps you understand the rating system.
