Refrigerators technology has improved tremendously in the past few decades. If you think refrigerator consumes a lot of electricity compared to other home appliances such as heater, air conditional, LCD tv, audio system and even your computer, then think again because you are wrong. The energy consumption of refrigerators is peanuts compared to these appliances. The average energy cost of today refrigerators is less than $100 bucks per year for a 25-cubic-foott size. A 25-cubic-foot refrigerator is enormous in terms of size and can easily store a week of food supply for a large family of 8 to 10 people.

Today’s refrigerator-freezer models also offer a lot more conveniences. The basic 18-cubic-foot freezer-on-top model already has every feature you need as a refrigerator and it’s enough for a family of 2 to 4 people. If you want the fancier type, then go for the 20-cubic-foot capacity which is often equipped with adjustable glass shelves, meat keeper with temperature control, vegetable crisper with humidity control, ice-maker and door bins.

Other things to consider for buying refrigerator are cost and features. Some models have the freezer located below the refrigerator which is arguably good for people with back pain due to the fact that we access the fresh food compartment more than we access the freezer. We don’t bend our back as much as we do when the fresh food compartment is located higher than the freezer.

Side-by-side refrigerators are more sophisticated type which are equipped with more features and therefore cost more. Some convenience features that come with side by side refrigerators are water- and ice-dispensing built right into the door. Built-in refrigerator-freezers and commercial, stainless-steel models are top-of-the-line choices for luxurious looks or serious, high-volume storage.

How much refrigerator do you need? One rule of thumb says plan on 12 cubic feet for two people and 2 more cubic feet for each additional household member, but other considerations also matter. If you like to stock up during sales, or cook often for crowds, the more room the better. Side-by-side models are easiest to organize, but the smaller models have relatively narrow freezers. Make sure the model you buy can fit a frozen turkey or pizza! In all cooling sections, look for pull-out, roll-out bins and baskets that make it easy to see everything without having to dig around, squandering energy (yours as well as the refrigerator’s!).

Beyond the main fridge, if you’ve got the room, a separate, under-counter refrigerator for soft drinks and a wine cooling compartment are entertaining options. If you’re a serious entertainer, you may want to look into ice makers that fit into the space of a trash compactor and produce large quantities of ice daily.