Best Energy-Efficient Refrigerators From Consumer Reports' Tests
These top-rated models from Amana, Dacor, LG, Samsung, and Whirlpool are good for your wallet and the planet
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The appliances you buy can have a big impact on your energy bill. They run so frequently (or in the case of refrigerators, 24/7/365) that their energy costs get baked into your fixed expenses for years to come. The good news is that home appliances, and refrigerators in particular, have become much more efficient over the years, costing people less and less.
āNewer refrigerators use much less energy than their predecessors,ā says Larry Ciufo, CRās test engineer for refrigerators. āFederal standards are constantly updated to ensure that refrigerators of certain sizes use ever-lower amounts of energy, and manufacturers introduce new technologies to meet those standards.ā
But which are the most energy-efficient? Our tests show that top-freezer and bottom-freezer refrigerators usually cost less to run than side-by-side and French-door models.
CR members can read on for ratings and reviews of the best energy-efficient refrigerators in each refrigerator type, sorted by Overall Score. We chose models that earn Very Good or Excellent ratings for energy efficiency while still offering solid performance, reliability, and owner satisfaction. The models are made by Amana, LG, Samsung, Sub-Zero, and Whirlpool.
To see even more highly rated energy-efficient fridges, go to our full refrigerator ratings and sort by energy efficiency. And if you need help shopping for a new refrigerator, check out our free refrigerator buying guide.