is it worth changing to a new energy efficient fridge or freezer ?

[larry]

Hi,
I was asked this question by a relative and I wasn't sure of the answer ?
ie. if one has a 'two star energy efficiency fridge' now,
if you sell it and get a new fridge that has a five star rating
how much approx a year would it save you ?

laz

 

[Unbeliever]

Ratings vary by size and type of fridge. If a two star fridge consumed
(say) 560kwh per year ( a typical sort of value for a medium size 350l
fridge), a four star fridge might consume 0.8 * 0.8 times that or about
360kwh per year per the Australian standard method.
So you'd use about 200 kwh less per year. At 13c per kwh, that's about $26.

Assuming a $520 changeover price, you'd pay the new fridge off in 20 years.
What a deal!

The environmental payback equation is a little better. It's been estimated
that the total energy used in making a fridge (from digging up the iron ore
on) is likely to be on the order of a 1/2 a Mwh. If this is reasonably
close, we could recoup the environmental damage done by turning over a
fridge before it's necessary in about 2.5 years.

It's probably best to keep your relative's fridge until it says "uncle", and
replace it with a more efficient one at the natural replacement time.

Don't even get me started on the economics of solar panels for electrical
power!

Cheers,
Alf
[email protected]
www.micromagic.net .au

 

[larry]

thanks a lot

laz

news:[email protected]...

 

[Fred]

thanks a lot

laz

You can have a look at the comparisons here.
http://www.worthit.com.au/energylabel/refrig_srch.asp

 

[KLR]

Ratings vary by size and type of fridge. If a two star fridge consumed
(say) 560kwh per year ( a typical sort of value for a medium size 350l
fridge), a four star fridge might consume 0.8 * 0.8 times that or about
360kwh per year per the Australian standard method.
So you'd use about 200 kwh less per year. At 13c per kwh, that's about $26.

Assuming a $520 changeover price, you'd pay the new fridge off in 20 years.
What a deal!

The environmental payback equation is a little better. It's been estimated
that the total energy used in making a fridge (from digging up the iron ore
on) is likely to be on the order of a 1/2 a Mwh. If this is reasonably
close, we could recoup the environmental damage done by turning over a
fridge before it's necessary in about 2.5 years.

It's probably best to keep your relative's fridge until it says "uncle", and
replace it with a more efficient one at the natural replacement time.

Don't even get me started on the economics of solar panels for electrical
power!

Cheers,
Alf
[email protected]
www.micromagic.net .au

Another thing to take into account is how old is the fridge ?If its some years old - the seals (or even insulation?) may not be
quite up to standard etc and it may now not be anywhere near as
efficient as a newer fridge - or even a brand new fridge of identical
make and model to the one you have.Wear and tear on the mechanical parts may cause it to lose efficiency
too ? (i'm sure there will be someone here who has knowlege on this)If I was in the market for a new fridge - the energy rating stars
would be a major factor in my buying decision - along with quality of
course.It all helps save money and its good for the environment too, but
remember that typically a fridge is something that you could easily
have for around 15-20 years or so. They really are a long-term
investment and the per-year savings DO add up to a significant amount
over that time.

 

[David L. Jones]

Hi,
I was asked this question by a relative and I wasn't sure of the answer ?
ie. if one has a 'two star energy efficiency fridge' now,
if you sell it and get a new fridge that has a five star rating
how much approx a year would it save you ?

laz

Forget the star rating, seems to be a load of crap when it comes to
fridges.
You must check the KWh/year rating which is printed on the energy star
tag. The KWh/year is the one which translates into $$ on your bill.
I just bought a 520L Kelvinator which only has I think 3.5 stars but
draws a very low 508KWh/year, the lowest of any 400+L fridge I could
find. Other fridges of the same capacity had more stars but were
upwards of 600KWh/year, some as high as 800-900KWh.
Get the best KWh/year rating you can for the size fridge you want.
The savings aren't huge financially, but very worthwhile in the long
term. Not to mention the warm fuzzy you get...
The really cheap fridges, esp the smaller ones, have horrible KWh
ratings

Regards
Dave

 

[Rod Speed]

Another thing to take into account is how old is the fridge ?

If its some years old - the seals (or even insulation?) may not
be quite up to standard etc and it may now not be anywhere
near as efficient as a newer fridge - or even a brand new
fridge of identical make and model to the one you have.

Much cheaper to renew the seals.

Wear and tear on the mechanical parts may cause it to lose efficiency
too ? (i'm sure there will be someone here who has knowlege on this)

Its a trivial consideration with a fridge. Their energy use is
completely dominated by the insuation quality and seals and use.

If I was in the market for a new fridge - the energy
rating stars would be a major factor in my buying
decision - along with quality of course.

There isnt a hell of a lot in it in the 10 year cost
between decent and much better than decent.

It all helps save money and its good for the environment too,

**** the environment. Plenty of things
have a much bigger effect than fridges.

but remember that typically a fridge is something that
you could easily have for around 15-20 years or so.

Or much more.

They really are a long-term investment and the per-year
savings DO add up to a significant amount over that time.

In theory. In practice there isnt a hell of a lot in it in the 20
year cost between decent and much better than decent.

 

[RMD]

All,

Bigger fridges and freezers are always more efficient per unit volume
than small fridges. This is because surface area goes up as
fridge/freezer dimensions squared, while volume goes up as dimensions
cubed. Fridge/freezer losses are proportional to surface area.

Also chest freezers are twice as efficient as upright freezers. Self
defrosting has an efficiency price too. (Upright freezers are usually
self-defrosting.)

Ross

 

[David L. Jones]

All,

Bigger fridges and freezers are always more efficient per unit volume
than small fridges. This is because surface area goes up as
fridge/freezer dimensions squared, while volume goes up as dimensions
cubed. Fridge/freezer losses are proportional to surface area.

Also chest freezers are twice as efficient as upright freezers. Self
defrosting has an efficiency price too. (Upright freezers are usually
self-defrosting.)

Ross

Yep, in theory.
But if you look at the actual units out there, and their KWh/ratings,
there can be huge differences between units. So this will greatly
impact the efficiency/volume calculation. A 600L fridge can be less
efficient per unit volume than a 400L fridge for instance. Depends on
the brand and model etc.
Of course, actual units will also vary under different user conditions
too.

Anyone actually know how the KWh consumption rating corresponds to the
Star rating system? From my observations it seems that there is little
if any direct correlation.

Regards
Dave

 

[Oldus Fartus]

David L. Jones wrote:

Yep, in theory.
But if you look at the actual units out there, and their KWh/ratings,
there can be huge differences between units. So this will greatly
impact the efficiency/volume calculation. A 600L fridge can be less
efficient per unit volume than a 400L fridge for instance. Depends on
the brand and model etc.
Of course, actual units will also vary under different user conditions
too.

Anyone actually know how the KWh consumption rating corresponds to the
Star rating system? From my observations it seems that there is little
if any direct correlation.

Regards
Dave

Have a read of http://www.energyrating.gov.au

 

[David L. Jones]

Have a read of http://www.energyrating.gov.au

Thanks.
Had a quick read of the fridge section, but it still doesn't seem to
explain how the number of stars are calculated, or how/if this has a
direct relation with the KWh/year rating.

Dave

 

[Oldus Fartus]

Thanks.
Had a quick read of the fridge section, but it still doesn't seem to
explain how the number of stars are calculated, or how/if this has a
direct relation with the KWh/year rating.

Dave

http://www.energyrating.gov.au/star.html gives the basic idea.
Following the link from there to the fridge and freezer section tells a
little more.