Energy-efficient appliances often cost more upfront, but they save money in the long run. Systems like heat pumps and solar panels are common examples of upgrades that lower your utility bills.
Modern appliances, such as new refrigerators, use significantly less electricity than older models. These energy savings eventually cover the initial price difference and reduce your overall household expenses.
For example, heat pumps and solar panels are known long-term money-savers compared to older heating and power systems. But what about your fridge?
To determine the real financial impact of energy efficiency over a refrigerator's lifespan, I've run the numbers comparing today's models with those from a decade ago (2016).
I did the math -- a lot of it -- on a sample of 2,630 fridges and focused on long-term energy costs since I had easy access to the relevant Energy Star data.
Here's how much energy and money you might save by upgrading to a more energy-efficient fridge.
Where my fridge data comes from
Publicly available Energy Star data is a major player in this analysis. Screenshot by CNET
For my 2025 samples, I analyzed energy usage in modern Energy Star-certified models. For 2016, I couldn't rely on Energy Star data, because it lists only models that qualify for the most recent standards, not past ones.
Instead, I sourced my 2016 data from the California Energy Commission's Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System. Rather than cover 42 refrigerator classes individually, I grouped them into the following broad categories:
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