Can refrigerators be more efficient?

Efficiency standards specify the minimum energy and/or water efficiency of specific products.

The first minimum efficiency standards for many residential and commercial products were created by Congress with the passage of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. As a result of this law, national energy efficiency standards for appliances, lighting products and equipment have been saving energy and money, often with little notice. 

Since 1987, Congress has established or directed the U.S. Department of Energy to set efficiency standards for more than 55 products. Congress also charged the Department of Energy with periodically reviewing and updating all standards to keep pace with technological change. 

Residential refrigerators and freezers are among the many products for which efficiency standards are required. 

The first national efficiency standards for refrigerators and freezers were adopted by Congress and signed into law by President Reagan in 1987. Since that time, DOE has updated the national refrigerator standards three times, with the most recent update in 2011.

That update made a huge impact. Refrigerators sold in 2014 on average used just one-quarter of the energy of refrigerators in 1972, even as more modern refrigerators offer up to 30 percent more storage volume. 

The improved efficiency came from the use of more efficient compressors and fan motors, improved heat exchangers, and better insulation such as vacuum insulation panels.

Today’s technology allows refrigerators to use less energy and keep food fresh, longer compared to technology from a decade ago. 

For example, compressor technology has improved. The compressor is the “heart” of the refrigerator. Just like your heart pumps blood, the compressor controls the flow of refrigerant. Today’s variable-speed compressors are much more efficient than the old single-speed compressors because they can run at a lower average speed and do not have to toggle off and on the way single-speed compressors do. It’s a lot more efficient to quietly hum along at a steady pace than to go from 0 to sixty and then back to 0 again. Variable speed compressors have the side-benefit of keeping foods at more consistent temperatures, which leads to longer-lasting milk and crispier lettuce. 

Other proven efficiency improvements, such as more-efficient fan motors, heat exchangers, and insulation also have the potential to become much more widespread as a result of the proposed efficiency standards.

Unfortunately, not everyone supports energy efficiency standards. Anti-regulatory groups oppose standards on principle and some appliance manufacturers who want to be able to keep selling less efficient equipment are opposed as well.