In our home-improvement daydreams, the refrigerator rarely takes center stage. For most of us, any thoughts about that big box humming away in the kitchen are fleeting and tend to run along the lines of: Is there any milk left? Or: What's in that Tupperware bowl-and how long has it been in there? The truth is, though it may not be the most glamorous household appliance, the refrigerator is certainly among the most vital. It dutifully runs-day and night, in every season-to keep food fresh and at the ready. And because it works so tirelessly, it's among the most power-hungry appliances in almost every home.

The good news is that, when it comes to efficiency, today's refrigerators are leaving old ones in the cold: Many new models use less than half the power of those made before 1993-the year federal standards were dramatically tightened. (They were made even tougher in 2001.) Still, plenty of older machines lurk in kitchens everywhere. According to Energy Star, more than 30 million pre-1993 refrigerators are currently in use in the United States. That represents a lot of wasted energy. So if you'd like to reduce your household power consumption, and your refrigerator is showing its age (hint: If it's avocado or harvest gold, it's probably too old), this is one cool place to start.

Here's what to look for.

Configuration à la model: ice cream on top, on the bottom, or on the side?
The array of shiny new refrigerators in the appliance showroom stretches on for what seems like forever. Overwhelming? Sure. But your choices boil down to one of four main styles: freezer on top, freezer on the bottom, side-by-side, or French door (two doors on top with single-drawer freezer on bottom). Though the side-by-side models make a quick grab for the Gatorade easy, units with the freezer on the top or bottom are typically more energy-efficient and put a much milder chill on the pocketbook.

There are other, less common styles to meet specific needs. You might consider a compact under-counter model if you live in a studio apartment and rarely eat at home. But be aware that this little fridge isn't necessarily going to do the environment any big favors. "Compact refrigerators don't use much less energy than a full-size model, and have a quarter the usable space, or less," says Alex Wilson, co-author of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy's Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings.

Every style has some models that meet the toughest energy criteria, however. The two main technological upgrades that lead to better efficiency, according to Energy Star, are things you can't see: improved insulation and high-efficiency compressors.

size (sorta) matters: how you use it also counts
Big refrigerators are de rigueur in appliance departments these days. And at first glance, the spacious shelves and broad doors are appealing. Keep in mind, though, that as with cars, the biggest hunk of metal isn't necessarily the best. The most efficient models typically fall in the 16- to 20-cubic-foot range, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). Of course, you don't want to go too small, since a tightly packed refrigerator will have to work extra hard. (For best performance, the main part of the fridge should be kept 2/3 full; the freezer, 3/4 full.)

So how to decide on size? A general rule of thumb from the folks at Energy Star is to allow for 12 cubic feet of refrigerator and freezer space for the first two members of your household, and then add an additional four cubic feet for each additional member. Take your family's lifestyle into account, too. Do you eat out a lot? Cook at home and entertain often? Remember that it's far more economical to run one large refrigerator than two smaller ones, particularly if the second is an older model relegated to the garage or basement-an unfortunately popular way to cancel out any energy savings from a new appliance.

Bell, whistles, and automatic defrost: which conveniences steal too much juice?
Ice and water Units with automatic ice makers and in-the-door ice and water dispensers are handy. They're fun, too. And you might assume that in-door features will save power, since you don't have to open the door every time you want a drink. Nope. Fill your own ice trays and get your water at the kitchen tap, and you'll use up to 20 percent less energy.

Defrost Manual defrost is more energy-efficient than automatic, but only if you commit to periodic maintenance. When frost builds up, the motor keeps running and uses more energy. Manual-defrost models are also quite a bit harder to find, Wilson says, because most consumers prefer not to live in the Ice-in-the-Box Age.

Moisture control Who would guess that a lot of refrigerators actually come with built-in heaters? Many do, in order to control moisture levels. Heaters reduce moisture buildup, or sweat, on the outside of the refrigerator in humid conditions and consume an additional 5 to 10 percent more energy. Look for a refrigerator model that doesn't have this feature, or that has an "energy-saver" switch so you can turn it off when not required.

Hinges Check to make sure that the unit has heavy door hinges, which will ensure a good seal. The tighter the seal, the more the cold air stays where it belongs.

The fine print: what's up with all the labels?
Energy Star This program is sponsored jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the DOE. For a refrigerator to earn the Energy Star rating, it must use at least 15 percent less energy than the federal standard (20 percent less, if it's a compact model). When you see that familiar blue star, you know the model is among the better performers. But keep in mind that the federal standard is different for each refrigerator configuration-style, capacity, and features-so there is no one "magic number" that all units must fall below. Thus, a side-by-side model with through-the-door ice and water can be Energy Star-approved, and still be a significantly worse performer overall than a top-mount freezer model with no ice maker.

EnergyGuide This yellow sticker-created by the Federal Trade Commission-is required to appear on all refrigerators and numerous other household appliances in retail stores. It tells you the amount of electricity, in kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, that the refrigerator will use, and compares it with the consumption of similarly configured models. This sticker also gives an estimate of annual operating costs. Wilson says you can expect better top- or bottom-freezer units to use less than 700 kWh per year (which translates to $60 to $70 annually, on average), while the better side-by-side units should use less than 800 kWh per year ($70 to $80 per year, on average).

Cheat sheet: where to find the current recommended models
Once you have a general sense of the style, size, and features you're looking for in a new refrigerator, you can do one last bit of homework before making a purchase: Check the Energy Star website's section on refrigerators and take a look at the product list. There, you'll see every Energy Star-approved model on the market, and can compare them by energy consumption and the percentage by which each exceeds the federal standard. Armed with that information, you can decide what would be smartest for you.

Extra for experts: chilling outside the mainstream
Living the green life means different things to different people. And while every one of us can make a positive impact through small changes-selecting efficient products, recycling, walking to the store rather than driving-there are some intrepid souls who choose to go a (pretty big) step beyond, and live off the grid. This means, simply, that instead of being connected to a utility power company, they provide their own electricity through solar, wind, and other alternative power sources.

For them, there is a special category of ultra-high-efficiency refrigerators and freezers (some of which beat federal efficiency standards by 50 percent or more). Produced by companies such as Sun Frost and SunDanzer, these units feature very thick walls, extremely efficient compressors, and the ability to run on DC power. The design is typically quite simple-some are chest-style for best cold retention, and none have luxury extras like in-door ice dispensers. They are also significantly more expensive than mainstream refrigerators. But there are models that can be powered by a single photovoltaic (PV) panel. That's pretty impressive, and it means that living off the grid doesn't have to equal living without rocky road ice cream.

These ultra-high-efficiency refrigerators are a boon for the off-grid consumer, for whom every kWh saved means a lot. But certain units, including models made by Sun Frost, will work on standard AC (grid) power, as well. So if you're an average, on-grid customer, are they worth the investment? Maybe-if saving energy is your top priority and you're not necessarily looking for the least costly solution, since the price premium won't necessarily be repaid in reduced electric bills. You should compare all options when you shop. But mainstream refrigerators have improved considerably in recent years, and as Wilson points out, "the difference between the two categories is not nearly as big as it once was." Thanks to federal standards and industry efforts, we're all much cooler than we used to be.

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