What Is the Wattage of a Frigidaire Side by Side Refrigerator?

Kilowatt Hours

• Appliances manufacturers, following recommendations from the U.S. Department of Energy, express refrigerator wattages in kilowatt hours or kWh. This represents the thousands of watts used in an hour, and is typically expressed over a period of time. For example, the average monthly residential use in the U.S. was 920 kWh. In other words, the average home used 920,000 watts over the course of a year. This was according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration as of 2009. All Frigidaire side-by-side refrigerators display their annual kWh use on a yellow Energy Guide label on their doors. This is because they are ENERGYSTAR certified by the U.S. government.

Cheapest

• According to Frigidaire, its cheapest side-by-side model is the 22.6-cubic-foot model FFHS2322MB. Its manufacturer’s suggested retail price or MSRP is $999, which is accurate as of 2011. Among its features are a built-in water filtration system for the water dispenser and icemaker, humidity-controlled crisper drawers, push-button controls and an alert that warns homeowners when to change the filter. The appliance saves additional energy by going into conservation mode, if the doors remain closed for 24 hours or more. The surface has a black texture. The unit uses 549 kWh per year, with an estimated yearly energy cost of $57, assuming 10.65 cents per kWh.

Mid-Level

• Representing a mid-range MSRP of $1,499 is the Frigidaire Gallery 22.6-cubic-foot model FGHS2368LE. It boasts many of the features of the cheapest model plus a water filtration system that is the best in its class, Quick Freeze for food in the freezer section, and Quick Ice to deliver 37 percent more ice quickly. The doors have a white texture. Despite its potentially energy-draining features, the model still uses the same 549 kWh per year that the cheapest unit consumes.

Expensive

• The most expensive Frigidaire side-by-side is the Frigidaire Professional 22.6-cubic-foot model FPHC2398LF, which has an MSRP of $2,499. It includes all the features of the cheaper models, plus an automatic alert system that warns when the door is left open or the temperature rises, lighting to make all contents clearly visible and a filter that automatically cleans the cold air. The doors are made of stainless steel. The model’s energy usage is 550 kWh per year, only 1 kWh more than the previously mentioned models, which costs about $59.