Refrigerator reform: Guidelines for energy gluttons

This article reports that the US faces a serious problem regarding the many unobtrusive home appliances, and so far, the free market has failed to produce a solution. It points out that although refrigerators use more electricity than any other household appliance, including air conditioners, they are only one appliance among many. Major electric appliances consume an average of more than 55,000 megawatts over the year, or some 24% of national electricity use. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, constructing the power plants to supply electricity for traditionally inefficient appliances will cost $200 billion over the next 25 yrs., and the oil will be $5 billion a yr. It is suggested that these expenses could be avoided if the country spends $40 billion on increased appliance efficiency.