ApplianceAdvisor
Appliance Report

ApplianceAdvisor Rants about the DOE and EPA's "Energy Star" program to increase energy efficiency in appliances.

Beginning of Rant from the Advisor
The auto-defrost function works 1 to 2 times per day using a built in heater. That's how all auto-defrost features work. This unit, like most auto-defrost units has no option for disabling the auto-defrost function. Energy Star says "Manual defrost models use half the energy of automatic defrost models but must be defrosted periodically to remain energy efficient", but for reasons beyond this mortal's retarded capacity to reason, Energy Star does not rate Manual Defrost units. Makers of high efficiency manual defrost refrigerators are NOT allowed to participate in the Energy Star program. This raises some interesting questions:
    -Is Energy Star's program to market more efficient appliances misleading to say the least?
    -Does Energy Star (EPA and DOE) have too close a relationship with the appliance makers?
    -How can manufacturers build a "super efficient" fridge without a $5 switch to over-ride the auto-defrost?
    -To paraphrase Kenmore (see above) wouldn't we all be better off with a fridge that is "cheaper than a 37.5 watt bulb"?
For the average idiot consumer, perhaps Energy Star has increased the visibility of refrigerators that perform somewhat more efficiently than other refrigerators that they might have purchased. For conscientious consumers looking to buy "green" appliances, Energy Star doesn't tell it all, and only succeeds in increasing sales of less efficient units than these consumers would have wanted. That warm fuzzy feeling one has after buying one of these Energy Star fridges may actually be global warming.
End of Rant from the Advisor