Environmental Impact

Environmental Impact

Refrigerators are the largest power-guzzlers in the typical household. If you bought yours before 1993, chances are it's using two to three times as much energy as current models. In fact, the fridge may account for as much as one-fifth of your annual electricity costs, according to Consumer Reports.

More energy consumption requires more coal-fired power plants and the devastation caused by coal extraction. It also means more demands for hydroelectric dams and for nuclear power plants, with attendant hazards to surrounding areas and difficulties in disposing of radioactive fuel rods. And it means more emissions of soot and other air pollutants into the atmosphere by power plants burning coal and other fossil fuels to supply power. Among these emissions are mercury--a brain-damaging metal that can cause learning disabilities--and carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas that is a primary culprit in global warming. For every kilowatt-hour of electricity used in a home or elsewhere, power plants release an average of 1.34 pounds of CO2 into the environment! All in all, reducing energy consumption is key to a healthier planet.

Resources

Energy Star: www.energystar.gov

"Home Energy Brief #3: Refrigerators and Freezers." Rocky Mountain Institute.

Wilson, Alex et al. The Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings. American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, 2006.