Posted on June 6, 2008 by Gerald Pugliese
Sandy Bauers of Green Space recently found out just how eco-friendly new refrigerators have become. Take a look:
Today, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers released new data based on 2007 shipments of major appliances, highlighting dramatic decreases in home appliance energy consumption since 2000.
Specifically: Refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers account for a 43 percent combined decrease in energy consumption since 2000. The association calculates that the energy savings realized in 2007 shipments would offset the carbon dioxide emissions of more than 698 million gallons of gasoline consumed or the annual carbon dioxide emissions from 1.3 coal-fired power plants.
Looking at refrigerators in particular, energy consumption has decreased 30 percent since 2000. The average refrigerator sold today consumes less energy than a 60-watt light bulb.
Yikes. So is it time to replace mine?
The government’s Energy Star website has an appliance section that you could just about spend all day reading. I short-cutted to the refrigerator calculator. The overall prognosis: If your fridge is pre-'93, it's curtains for the thing.
Now don’t forget! For more green news, check out
DiseaseProof’s new green living category.
