3 Tips to Upgrade Your Fridge and Save You Money
(Sponsored) Hawaii Energy will even pay you $250 to upgrade to an energy-efficient one.
More time at home combined with high summer temps have resulted in higher electricity bills for a lot of us these days, and, in Hawai‘i, one of the bigger household energy drains is the refrigerator—not surprising for an appliance that constantly works night and day. If you’re looking for a home improvement project to tackle this summer, the experts at Hawaii Energy say the fridge is a great place to start.
If it ain’t broke, why should we replace it?
If your home has had the same fridge for 10, 20 years, you may be surprised to find out how big your environmental footprint is just by holding on to outdated, less efficient tech. Crunch the numbers with ENERGY STAR®’s calculator and you might find that replacing your longtime companion may actually pay for itself in just a few short years! Plus, Hawaii Energy offers rebates with participating retailers include $75 just to haul away and recycle, $100 for new ENERGY STAR model purchases and a whopping $250 for trading in your current fridge for an ENERGY STAR model.
More good news from the fridge department: Design is better now. Way better. Modern technology and advancements in efficient design have flooded the market with eco-friendly options that are not only environmentally sustainable—they’re also getting less expensive every year, and that’s not even factoring in what you’ll save on your electric bill. In general, all modern refrigerators are likely going to sport some upgraded foundational elements—such as better functioning compressors and insulation systems. Think fridges that are twice as efficient while using half the energy!
A few things to look for when buying new:
1. Bigger is not always better. A bigger fridge requires more energy to run, and if you’ve got a small household and a lot of wasted space on those shelves, that’s energy (and money) going out the window.
2. Skip the water dispenser. Top-freezer models don’t have to work as hard to maintain the necessary temps to keep your frozen yogurt and ice cubes cold. By opting out of those built-in ice makers and water dispensers you see on French door models, which can increase your fridge’s energy usage by 20%! (Bonus: Top-freezer models and models without ice machines also tend to require fewer repairs, saving you even more money in the long run.)
3. Look for the blue ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR-certified models are the most efficient options. These appliances often exceed industry energy usage standards, meaning you’re getting the best bang for your monthly bill’s buck. In fact, ENERGY STAR estimates buyers who replace their old fridges with new ENERGY STAR models end up saving more than $200 over the lifetime of the appliance.
Need more convincing that now’s the time to upgrade your fridge? Hawaii Energy is sweetening the deal even more with its Rid-A-Fridge giveaway. Call Hawaii Energy to schedule the haul away of your old fridge or freezer during the month of July and you could be one of four lucky winners to score a $50 Foodland gift card and one of their popular Home Energy Kits, which can save you up to $300 annually on your electric bill. (The kit includes an advanced power strip, four LED light bulbs, two bathroom aerators, and a high-efficiency shower head.)
Money back, a smaller bill, and more up-to-date appliances? Energy efficiency has never looked so good.
