ENERGY STAR appliances usually cost more than others. Could I save money if I buy a cheaper fridge or freezer and keep it well maintained?
No. It is always a good idea to keep any appliance well maintained for optimum performance, but even so, ENERGY STAR fridges and freezers are so much more efficient than other models – 20% more efficient than government standards – that they generally pay for themselves in just a few years. Think of an appliance as having two prices: the cost to buy it and the cost to run it. The higher cost of running less energy-efficient appliances quickly cancels out the lower purchase price.
