Super-Efficient Home Appliances Initiative
Refrigerators

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Through the Super-Efficient Home Appliances Initiative (SEHA), CEE is promoting energy-efficient refrigerators that use significantly less electricity than the federal standard. SEHA appliances are defined as the upper end of the ENERGY STAR® spectrum, based on energy efficiency.

In addition to refrigerators, SEHA efficiency specifications have been established for clothes washers, room air conditioners and dishwashers.

In the United States, there are approximately 130 million refrigerators, which run 24 hours a day, year round. The refrigerator is the single biggest power consumer in most households, accounting for about 15 percent of residential electricity usage.

Additional information about manufacturers of SEHA-compliant products is available in the Resource Library.

SEHA expands scope for refrigerators
Recognizing the potential for additional energy savings, CEE's Board of Directors approved a scope expansion of the refrigerator specifications to include mid-sized and manual and partial-automatic defrost units. Beginning January 1, 2004, the SEHA refrigerator specification will apply to all refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers larger than 7.75 cu. ft. (regardless of defrost type). Performance levels within the specification are established at 20 percent, 25 percent and 30 percent more efficient than the federal minimum standard.

Results from CEE ENERGY STAR® Household Survey available
The 2004 CEE ENERGY STAR Household Survey Report is now available on-line. This study, sponsored by CEE and 11 of its members, was designed to measure public awareness and understanding of the ENERGY STAR label.


CONTACT
For further information about super-efficient refrigerators and the SEHA Initiative, contact Eileen Eaton at 617-589-3949, ext. 203.

Technology Summary

Long-term design options for improving the efficiency of refrigerators include:

  • vacuum-panel insulation (VPI) which can significantly reduce heat gain in a refrigerated cabinet.
  • improved fan motors such as electronically commutated motors (ECMs) which typically require less than half as much power as shaded pole motors.

Technology Potential Efficiency Gain Issues
VPI 10-20%
  • Expensive
  • Limited number on market
  • Additional testing required before mass production
ECM motors 9%
  • Expensive
  • Insufficient supplies, but two companies w/plans to expand production

Other more near-term options include:

  • Variable speed compressor with a potential 10% efficiency gain
  • Variable speed evaporator fans, which use only 2 watts compared to 10-12 with a conventional unit
  • Modulating compressor speeds that adjust to cooling demand
  • Adaptive defrosting that monitors the defrost cycle. Refrigerator defrosts only when blocked by ice, resulting in defrost every 3-4 days (compared to daily defrost in conventional models)
  • Additional insulation

The incremental cost of a model with a combination of the above-mentioned near-term features would be $106 (at retail) with a $16 annual savings.

Regulatory Information

Standards: A new federal minimum standard became effective in July 2001. This standard calls for a 30 percent improvement on the old AEC levels. The U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) standards specify a maximum AEC as a linear function of adjusted volume (AV). The formulas, arranged by product type, are listed in the table below.

Type Formula
Manual defrost 8.82AV + 248.4
Partial automatic defrost 8.82AV + 248.4
Automatic defrost, top mounted freezer, no TTD ice 9.80AV + 276
Automatic defrost, side-mounted freezer, no TTD ice 4.91AV + 507.5
Automatic defrost, bottom-mounted freezer, no TTD ice 4.60AV + 459
Automatic defrost, top mounted freezer, with TTD ice 10.20AV + 356
Automatic defrost, side-mounted freezer, with TTD ice 10.10AV + 406

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