This paper summarizes the Phase I tasks of ASHRAE Research Project, RP-427, "Determination of Validity of Refrigerator/Freezer Energy Testing." Refrigerators, refrigerator/freezers, and freezers sold in the United States are currently required to display a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) label that lists the estimated yearly energy cost of operating the appliance, determined from a Department of Energy (DOE) defined laboratory test standard procedure. As design features for refrigerator/freezers have been improved to increase energy efficiency, the present DOE test procedure has not been evaluated to determine the effect on energy consumption experienced in the field. The relative change in field energy consumption due to these changes in design parameters, such as insulation thickness or compressor efficiencies, may not be reflected in DOE test results. As new design features are added to the appliances, a determination must be made as to their benefit to the consumer. It was concluded that the validity of the present test procedure could not be characterized. To determine whether the present procedure is valid, a field test program and a modified laboratory experimental program were developed to determine the expected "average" field (household) energy consumption as a function of physical and design parameters. 

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