Your Old Fridge Is Costing You. Here's How Much Energy a New Model Saves Each Year

John Carlsen has more than a decade of experience testing and reviewing home tech products, with a major focus on smart home security. He earned his BS in journalism from Utah Valley University. In addition to his CNET contributions, John has written for Android Police, TWICE, Home Theater Review, SafeWise, ASecureLife and Top Ten Reviews.

New, more energy-efficient appliances may cost you at the register, but the savings tend to catch up over time. Most people think of heat pumps or solar panels when they hear "long-term energy-saving investment," but your refrigerator quietly makes the same case. 

Newer models use considerably less electricity than those from even 10 years ago, and that gap in energy use translates directly into lower utility bills.

I wanted to put an actual number on it, so I did a ton of math, analyzing ...