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ASAP

Refrigerators & Freezers

Last updated April 2005
See the federal standards main page to view current status

The story of residential refrigerator effciency since the mid 1970s is one of the greatest success stories of appliance efficiency standards. Figure 1 shows the steady decline in refrigerator energy energy use over the past 35 years. Six iterations of standards, three adopted by California and then by other states, and two adopted nationally, have driven the energy use of a typical refrigerator from about 1,800 kWh/yr in 1972 to less than 500 kWh/yr today. Figure 2 shows that even as new standards became effective, innovation and competition drove down the cost of refrigerators. At the same time, the typical refrigerator has got bigger and better, often including features like ice-makers and auto-defrost.

• Federal Documentation (DOE Web site)

Update
In December 2007, the Congress enacted H.R. 6, requiring that DOE complete a rulemaking to consider strengthened standards for residential refrigerators by December 31st, 2010.  Any amended standard would become effective January 1st, 2014.  (February 2008)

Press Release
Efficiency Advocates Announce Landmark Agreement on Higher Energy and Water Efficiency Standards May 1, 2007

Press Release
DOE Proposed Schedule Ignores Two Key Products
February 1, 2006

Press Release
DOE Grants Coalition Request for a New Refrigerator Standard Rulemaking
April 12, 2005

Filing
Petition to DOE to conduct a rulemaking to amend existing minimum efficiency standards for residential refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers.
June 1, 2004