Refrigerator age and what an old one costs to run

A refrigerator more than 15 years old could cost about $95 a year more to run than a new one. On average, an old refrigerator uses about 20 percent more energy than an ENERGY STAR certified model. Over a new certified model's 12-year life, the difference adds up to about $150.

What your own refrigerator costs

ENERGY STAR's Flip Your Fridge calculator estimates what your unit costs to run. It asks for the type, the approximate model year and the size, plus the electricity rate from your utility bill. Without a bill, it uses the average rate for your state. It then estimates the unit's yearly cost and energy use, and what a certified model would save over five years.

The calculator has a separate option for a second refrigerator or freezer, such as one in the garage. It estimates what that unit costs to run each year.

Keeping the one you have

• The temperature. Keep the refrigerator at 35 to 38°F.
• The spot. Keep it away from heat, such as an oven, a dishwasher or sun through a window, and leave a few inches between it and the wall.
• The coils. Keep the condenser coils clean on an older model.
• The door. Check that the door seals are airtight, and replace them if they aren't. Keep the door open for as short a time as you can.

If you replace it

Models with the freezer on top tend to use the least energy, compared with bottom-freezer and side-by-side models. A certified model is about 9 percent more efficient than one that just meets the federal minimum. Have the old refrigerator recycled. Many appliance retailers pick up and recycle the old one when they deliver a new one.

An annotated example

What to do next

Find the refrigerator's receipt or warranty, or estimate its model year, and run the calculator for each unit in the house.