You see energy guide labels on all types of appliances. They tell you how much electricity an appliance uses, based on tests required by the government. Machines that do well qualify for an Energy Star. but can you rely on it? Not necessarily when you're shopping for a refrigerator, according to Consumer Reports.
"In our tests, refrigerators typically use about 20 percent more energy than it says on their yellow energy guide label. That's because our tests are tougher, and we believe they better reflect how you'd actually use a refrigerator," explained Celia Kuperszmid-Lehrman of Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports' tests have found some French-door refrigerators are off by far more.
The GE made by Samsung used almost 40 percent more electricity than the number on its guide would suggest, and Consumer Reports found that the LG and the Sears Kenmore made by LG used about 50 percent more.
Consumer Reports says that the government's test procedures need to be better defined, so that manufacturers can't claim energy savings you are unlikely to see at home.
For example, Consumer Reports found those two refrigerators made by LG use significantly less energy only at the warmest settings required by the government tests.
"But you're not likely to use those settings, because your food's going to spoil faster. So you're not going to get the energy savings," said Kuperszmid-Lehrman.
But don't despair. Consumer Reports found plenty of refrigerators that pass tough tests with flying colors, including the $850 top-freezer made by LG.
A side-by-side will cost you more, but you can still get an energy-efficient machine. The Whirlpool Gold costs about $2,000 and performed well in Consumer Reports' tests.
The Department of Energy just recently announced it has stripped 20 LG-made French-door refrigerators of their energy stars, including the two that had problems in Consumer Reports' tests. While this action shows the government is addressing some of the issues with its Energy Star program, Consumer reports says the government still needs to clarify test conditions.
