- Buying tips
- Refrigerator distributors by brand name
- Categories of refrigerators
- EnerGuide label: Types of Refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers
- Operating tips to save energy and money
Buying Tips
Select the Right Size (Capacity) for Your Needs
A model that is too big wastes money and energy, and one that is too small could waste energy if it becomes overcrowded with food and drinks. It is better to have a larger, energy-efficient refrigerator than a smaller model. Review the type of food and containers you typically store in your refrigerator and the size of your kitchen and choose the best size for your needs.
Measure the space where the appliance will be located (height, width and depth) before shopping. Allow enough space for good airflow around the sides, top and back of your new refrigerator for maximum operating efficiency.
Look for These Features
- Look for the ENERGY STAR symbol
- the lowest EnerGuide energy consumption rating
- an "Energy Save" switch that controls heating coils in the cabinet (they prevent condensation in humid weather, but you should turn them off when the air is dry)
- separate temperature controls that regulate the inside temperature of the refrigerator and freezer compartments
- easy-rolling wheels, which make cleaning easier, especially for vacuuming the condenser coils regularly in order to maximize efficiency and compressor life
A Higher Standard: ENERGY STAR®
Choose an ENERGY STAR Qualified Model
Today's refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers use at least 50 percent less energy than those produced in 1990. Superior design, more efficient compressors and better insulation and door seals all help improve energy efficiency.
To be ENERGY STAR qualified, refrigerators must exceed Government of Canada minimum regulated energy efficiency levels by at least 20 percent.
ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators are available in every category, including all sizes of standard and compact models, refrigerators with manual and partial automatic defrost, and "all-refrigerators" (a term that refers to models that have no freezer compartment).
| Refrigerators |
1990 (average annual energy consumption in kWh/year) |
2008 (average annual energy consumptionin kWh/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Type 3 (top-mounted freezer, 16.5 – 18.4 cu.ft) | 1044 | 454 |
| ENERGY STAR qualified | - | 387 |
Compare current refrigerators models by visiting our searchable product listings, which show ENERGY STAR qualified models and standard models.
List of models: Refrigerators
| Brand Name | Distributor |
|---|---|
| Admiral | Whirlpool Corporation |
| AGA | Amana Appliances |
| Amana | Maytag Co. |
| Beaumark | The Bay / La Baie |
| Blomberg | Arcelik |
| Bosch | BSH Home Appliances |
| Brada | Samsung |
| Brandsource | Samsung |
| Camco | Leiser S de RL de CV |
| Clairtone | Super Electric Co. Ltd. |
| Coldspot | Sears Canada Inc. |
| Concept Design | Ningbo Hicon International |
| Crosley | Crosley Appliances Ltd. |
| Dacor | Maytag Co. |
| Daewoo | Daewoo Electronics Corporation |
| Danby | Danby Products Ltd. |
| Danby Designer (Danby Des.) | Danby Products Ltd. |
| Danby Diplomat (Danby Dip.) | Danby Products Ltd. |
| Danby Millennium (Danby Mil.) | Danby Products Ltd. |
| Danby Silhouette (Danby Sil.) | Danby Products Ltd. |
| DCS | Samsung |
| Dimchae | Winiamando Inc. |
| Electrolux | Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. |
| Estate | Whirlpool Corporation |
| Eterna | Camco Inc. / GE Appliances |
| Fisher & Paykel (F. & P.) | Innovative Appliances Distribution |
| Frigidaire | Electrolux Home Products |
| Gaggenau | BSH Home Appliances |
| Gallery | Electrolux Home Appliances |
| GE Café | Electrolux Home Appliances |
| GE Profile | Camco Inc. / GE Appliances |
| General Electric (GE) | Camco Inc. / GE Appliances |
| Gibson | Electrolux Home Products |
| Goldstar | LG Electronics Inc. |
| Haier | Haier American Trading Corp. |
| Heartland | Amana Appliances |
| Hotpoint | Camco Inc. / GE Appliances |
| Icon | Electrolux Home Products |
| Ikea | Ikea Canada |
| Inglis | Whirlpool Corporation |
| Jenn-Air | Maytag Ltd. |
| Kenmore | Sears Canada Inc. |
| Kirkland | Costco / Whirlpool Corporation |
| KitchenAid | Whirlpool Corporation |
| LG | LG Electronics Inc. |
| Liebherr | Euro-line Appliances |
| Mabe | Mabe Canada |
| Magic Chef | Maytag Co. |
| Maytag | Maytag Co. |
| Maytag Performance (Maytag Perf.) | Maytag Co. |
| Miele | BSH Home Appliances |
| Moffat | Camco Inc. |
| Monogram | Camco Inc. / GE Appliances |
| Profile | Camco Inc. / GE Appliances |
| Roper | Whirlpool Corporation |
| Samsung | Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. |
| Sanyo | Sanyo E & E Corp. |
| Siemens | Daewood Electric Co. Ltd. |
| Silhouette | Danby Products Ltd. |
| Simplicity | Danby Products Ltd. |
| Sub-Zero | Sub-Zero Freezer Company, Inc. |
| Tappan | Electrolux Home Products |
| Thermador | BSH Home Appliances |
| Viking | Viking Range Corporation |
| Whirlpool | Whirlpool Corporation |
| White-Westinghouse (White-West.) | Electrolux Home Products |
| Wood’s | W.C. Wood Company Ltd. |
Categories of Refrigerators
Refrigerators are available in various sizes and with a variety of different features, all of which affect energy consumption. That's why EnerGuide groups refrigerators according to type and size, enabling you to compare the energy consumption of similar models.
Refrigerators with Automatic Defrost
This category includes standard-size refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and all refrigerators (with no freezer) with automatic defrost (Types 3 to 7 on the EnerGuide label).
Refrigerators without Automatic Defrost
This category includes standard-size refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers without automatic defrost (Types 1 and 2 on the EnerGuide label).
Compact Refrigerators
This category includes compact refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers (Types 11 to 15 on the EnerGuide label). These appliances have total refrigerated volumes of less than 219.5 L (7.75 cu. ft.) and overall heights of less than 91.4 cm (36 in.).
Wine Chillers with Automatic Defrost
This category includes wine chillers with automatic defrost (Type 20 on the Energuide label).
Wine Chillers with Manual Defrost
This category includes wine chillers with manual defrost (Type 19 on the Energuide label).
EnerGuide Label Types: Refrigerator, Refrigerator-Freezer
Every EnerGuide label shows the type of product, its capacity and its energy consumption. Because of space restrictions, it does not list other features. Instead, the type of product is shown by a number. This chart lists the various types of refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers, with their corresponding features.
| Type 1 | Refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers with semi- automatic or manual defrost |
|---|---|
| Type 2 | Refrigerator-freezers with partial automatic defrost (partial automatic defrost is a system in which only the refrigerator portion of the appliance defrosts automatically; the freezer compartment must be defrosted manually) |
| Type 3 | Refrigerator-freezers with automatic defrost, with top-mounted freezer, without through-the-door ice service and all-refrigerators (with no freezer) with automatic defrost |
|---|---|
| Type 4 | Refrigerator-freezers with automatic defrost, with side-mounted freezer, without through-the-door ice service |
| Type 5 | Refrigerator-freezers with automatic defrost, with bottom-mounted freezer, without through-the-door ice service |
| Type 5A | Refrigerator-freezers with automatic defrost, with bottom-mounted freezer, with through-the-door ice service |
| Type 6 | Refrigerator-freezers with automatic defrost, with top-mounted freezer and through-the-door ice service |
| Type 7 | Refrigerator-freezers with automatic defrost, with side-mounted freezer and through-the-door ice service |
| Type 11 | Compact refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers with semi-automatic or manual defrost |
|---|---|
| Type 12 | Compact refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers with partial automatic defrost |
| Type 13 | Compact refrigerator-freezers with automatic defrost and with top-mounted freezer as well as compact all-refrigerator (with no freezer) with automatic defrost |
| Type 14 | Compact refrigerator-freezers with automatic defrost and with side-mounted freezer |
| Type 15 | Compact refrigerator-freezers with automatic defrost and with bottom-mounted freezer |
| Type 19 | Wine chillers with manual defrost |
|---|---|
| Type 20 | Wine chillers with automatic defrost |
Operating Tips to Save Energy and Money
Buying a refrigerator
- Top-freezer models are more energy efficient than side-by-side models.
- Automatic icemakers and through-the-door and internal water dispensers use more energy.
Saving energy and money
- Be sure to read the owner’s manual. It has helpful hints on how to operate refrigerators at optimum efficiency.
- Position the refrigerator at least 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3 in.) from the wall so air can move freely around it. Refrigerator motors and compressors generate heat, which requires sufficient space around your refrigerator for continuous airflow. If heat cannot escape, the refrigerator’s cooling system has to work extra hard and use more energy.
- Clean the condenser coils regularly so air can circulate. When dust and pet hair build up on a refrigerator’s coils, air does not circulate freely so the motor works harder and uses more electricity.
- Position refrigerators away from heat sources such as ovens, dishwashers, direct sunlight and heating vents.
- Set your refrigerator’s temperature between 1.7°C and 3.3°C (35 and 38°F) and the freezer at –18°C (0°F) for maximum efficiency and food safety.
- Do not hold the door open longer than necessary.
- Do not place warm food or containers in the refrigerator; wait until they cool.
- A full refrigerator is a fine thing, but do not overfill it. Restricted air circulation inside reduces energy efficiency.
- Make sure the door seals are clean and tight. They should hold a slip of paper snugly. If the paper slips out easily, replace the seals. Another way to check the seals is by performing the flashlight test: Place a lit flashlight inside the refrigerator and close the door. If you can see light around the door, the seals need to be replaced. Use the flashlight test for your freezers and ovens as well.
- Unplug an older, second refrigerator if you are not using it – it probably uses twice as much energy as your newer one.
- When discarding or storing an unused refrigerator, remove the door; it is a danger for children and pets.
Recycle Your Old Refrigerator
It may be tempting to move an old refrigerator to the basement or garage instead of recycling it, but this can cost you a lot of money. Use the Energy Cost Calculator for New Appliances to see how much. Your 10 year old appliance could use over 40 percent more energy than an ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator (manufactured in 2008), so getting rid of it will make a big difference on your electricity bill. When discarding your older refrigerator, check with your municipality or local utility about pick-up and recycling programs.