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Fridge Replacement Analysis

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by SageBrush, Jun 13, 2011.

  1. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Fridge Replacement Analysis

    Sears (of all places!) had a one day sale yesterday I decided to take advantage of. What follows is an enviro and cost analysis of my purchase:

    Old fridge: 2 kwh a day energy consumption,
    waste of about 0.5 pounds of vegetables a week, cost about $1
    19 c.f. volume
    anticipate selling for $150

    New fridge: 1 kwh a day energy consumption
    22 c.f. volume
    updates kitchen aesthetics
    Cost: $1062 delivered

    Energy: currently 12 cents a kwh,
    Assumed cost increases 4% annualy to match historical inflation

    Money: 5% opportunity cost or loan apr
    20 year amortization

    ------------
    In 2011 money, I will pay 2 cents a day net financing costs less energy costs and gain the following:
    A new fridge,
    nicer looking kitchen;
    conservation of 1 kwh/day electric;
    conservation of 0.5 pounds of vegetables a week;
    removal of 1 kwh/day heat load in my house. That is a good thing 8 months of the year.

    Heck of a deal. I don't expect to be paid to be a good citizen, but I like it when it happens :) And note, there was no corrupting tax credit, subsidy, or nonsense required. Just a bit of patience to sniff out a good consumer price.
     
    #1 SageBrush, Jun 13, 2011
  2. oxnardprof

    oxnardprof Member

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    You can get really good deals from Sears, and they will match competitors. You may check with your local utility, some offer rebates for new, more efficient fridges.

    We purchased a new 25 cf fridge about a year ago for about $1200 delivered. It is big enough that we eliminated a spare we had in the garage. That reduced the electric bill. Then we just sold that fridge for $250. My wife cleaned it - it was in pristine condition. A 14 year old Amana bottom freezer, 21 cf.

    We also sold a 16 year old black Amana top freezer for $125. This was the one we were using as a spare in the garage.

    Good move on your part!
     
    #2 oxnardprof, Jun 13, 2011
  3. chogan2

    chogan2 Senior Member

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    Replacing an old fridge is usually pretty cost-effective, so much so that the EPA has a calculator to use as a guideline. I think it assumes a fridge in average condition for its age.
    ENERGY STAR

    The government rebates offered for Energy Star appliances are pretty modest. At 1 KWH/day for 22 cu ft that surely hits the Energy Star standard. The programs are run by the states, not the Feds, if that makes any difference to you. In Virginia, the rebate on an Energy Star fridge is $60. Small enough that the well-to-do will ignore it, but maybe enough to push some people into the (presumably) more efficient Energy Star certified appliances rather than others. And the fixed dollar amount matters more if you're buying at the low end of the market. You're not losing much to ignore the rebates, if any, offered in your state.
    Energy Savers: Rebates for ENERGY STAR Appliances
     
    #3 chogan2, Jun 14, 2011
  4. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

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    What assumption did you make about repair costs for both refrigerators? I'm saying this because I didn't quite understand your line item for .5 veggie waste on the old refrig.

    By the way, anyone still refer to refrigerators as the "ice box"? I do.:D
     
    #4 twittel, Jun 14, 2011
  5. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Ice box?
    I got rid of my old fridge because it kept forming ice in the refrigerator cabinet not just the freezer. My fridge is a no ice zone.
     
    #5 patsparks, Jun 14, 2011
  6. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    No repair costs were calculated.

    Our current fridge has poor temperature and humidity control leading to vegetable spoilage. Based on the experience of others I anticipate this loss will stop with the new appliance.
     
    #6 SageBrush, Jun 14, 2011
  7. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Energy Star has a very nice spreadsheet that includes fridge model, features, volume, and energy usage. I modded the table to only look at 22 cf boxes, and used their adjusted volumes that accounts for different ratios of freezer/cooler space to sort by energy efficiency. Table below
    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

    #7 SageBrush, Jun 19, 2011
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