The Biggest Always-On Load

Refrigerators are the only major appliance that runs continuously, cycling their compressor around the clock. That makes them the third-largest energy consumer in most homes — behind HVAC and water heating — typically 8–13% of the electricity bill. Understanding your unit's draw is the first step to cutting it.

Age and Efficiency

Federal efficiency standards have tightened repeatedly, so vintage matters enormously: a fridge from 1995 may use 800+ kWh per year, while a modern ENERGY STAR model of the same size uses under 400. This calculator models both the size baseline and the age penalty, then compares your unit against an ENERGY STAR replacement.

Simple Savings Levers

Clean condenser coils twice a year, verify door seals, keep temperatures at 37–40°F and 0–5°F, and let hot food cool before storing. Each fix trims compressor runtime. When the unit is older than 12–15 years, replacement with an ENERGY STAR model is usually the strongest lever of all.