Describes the cost-efficiency analysis of design options carried out in support of the proposed US Department of Energy 1998 standards for refrigerator/freezers. The analysis shows that, for example, for a 515 litre (18.2ft3) top-mounted automatic defrost refrigerator-freezer, the annual energy consumption can be reduced from 700kWh/yr (2.52GJ/yr) to 484kWh/yr (1.74GJ/yr) (30.9%) by the use of more efficient fan motors and compressors, improved gaskets, and insulation that is .5in, (12.7mm) thicker. The energy use can be further reduced to 422kWh/yr (1.52GJ/yr) (39.8%) by employing improved heat exchangers, switching to adaptive defrost, and employing vacuum panel insulation instead of thicker walls and doors.

KEYWORDS: year 1996, energy conservation, freezers, refrigerators, US, standards, automatic, designing, energy consumption, efficiency, performance, costs, economics, thermal insulation