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Refrigerators are usually one of the bigger energy consumers in your home. Often they can makeup over 5% of your household energy use. The refrigerant gas used by the refrigerator can also be a major source of household emissions if not handled properly.
To choose a climate-friendly fridge, you want to make sure the fridge is energy efficient and uses a low GWP (global warming potential) refrigerant.
The easiest way to find a climate friendly fridge is to go to Energy Star’s refrigerator lookup tool and check the box for “Most Efficient” in the left sidebar. This tool also gives you other helpful features like filtering by price and type of fridge.
Here’s a checklist you can reference to make sure the fridge you’re buying is climate friendly:
Ensure the fridge uses a climate friendly refrigerant gas. R-600a, also known as Isobutane, is a great choice for a refrigerant with a low global warming potential. R-290 is another good option. You want to avoid R-134a, which is a common refrigerant with a very large global warming potential.
Choose the most energy efficient option. Look for an Energy Star certification, and ideally choose a fridge with the Energy Star “Most Efficient” rating. In general, smaller fridges and fridges with top-mounted freezers are more efficient.
Look for rebates. Buying energy efficient refrigerators can sometimes qualify for rebates. Energy Star’s tool is a great resource to find these rebates.
Remember to dispose of your old fridge properly. Read our short guide below: