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Freezers
Freezers come in two basic styles: upright with the door on the front and chest with a lid on top. As a general rule chest-type freezers are 10-25% more efficient than upright models. This is because they tend to have more insulation and because cold air does not spill out of them when they're opened.
Manual defrost models are more common and perform better than frost-free. Automatic defrosting freezers have a greater tendency to dehydrate foods they contain, so freezer burn is more common in such machines. Frost accumulation in stand-alone freezers should be considerably less than in freezer compartments in a refrigerator because they get opened much less frequently.
Refrigerators
How They Work
Refrigerators are meant to keep things cold. To do this, they create an enclosed space and pump heat from inside that enclosure to outside. The scientific principles at work in pumping the heat are the same as the ones used for freezers and air conditioners.
Built for Efficiency?
For a refrigerator to work efficiently, its walls need to contain insulation to resist the flow of heat back into the box, and the door needs to have a flexible gasket to make a good seal between it and the rest of the box. The better the insulation and the gasket, the more energy efficient the refrigerator. Additional efficiencies are possible through the design of the machine that pumps the heat out of the box.
Efficiency Tips at Home
- Locate your refrigerator away from your stove or anything else that gets hot.
- Close the refrigerator door as soon as possible.
- See Energy Star's web site for more tips and information about efficient refrigerators.
Buying a New Refrigerator
- Buy the smallest refrigerator that properly serves your needs. An 18 cubic foot capacity unit is the most commonly purchased size.
- If you're interested in maximizing your energy efficiency choose a top freezer configuration rather than side-by-side. A top freezer model uses 20% less electricity than a comparable size side-by-side unit. Bottom freezer models finish a close second in efficiency to top freezer models.
- Consider buying an Energy Star - labeled refrigerator. To qualify for an Energy Star rating, models must be 15% (or more) efficient than current Federal standards.
- Pay attention to The Energy Guide Label. Keep in mind that the comparisons it gives with "similar" models means similar in size and identical in design.
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For more information from Seattle City Light on appliances, please e-mail rescons.scl@seattle.gov or call 206.684.3800.
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Featured Programs and Events:
· Twist & Save with energy-efficient light bulbs at new low prices! See participating retailers, disposal information and a video of your favorite Seattle celebrities twisting and saving!!
· Refrigerator Recycling We pick up your old fridge... And you pick up 30 bucks.
·Do it yourself guide to air-sealing and insulating your home from ENERGY STAR
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