RCA RFR176-B-BLACK Running Cost (Refrigerator)
RCA RFR176-B-BLACK: running cost
ENERGY STAR certifies the RCA RFR176-B-BLACK at 206 kWh/yr, one of the cheaper models in its category to run for its category.
That $39 is priced at 18.8¢/kWh, the average of all 51 state rates this site tracks. Your own state's rate is one click away.
How the RCA RFR176-B-BLACK compares to other refrigerators
Against the category average of 386 kWh/yr, this model uses 46.6% less, ranking 372 of 4,704 refrigerators tracked here for running cost. 4,704 certified refrigerators, one average, about $34/year of daylight between it and this model; the full methodology has the rest.
Neighbouring models
Right next to the RCA RFR176-B-BLACK on that list: RCA RFR160-RED ($39/yr, 206 kWh/yr) runs slightly less, while RCA RFR176-B-RED ($39/yr, 206 kWh/yr) runs slightly more.
Comparing RCA's own models
Ranked 29 of RCA's 46 certified refrigerators, this sits between the EFR180 ($30/yr, the brand's cheapest) and the RFR836-6COM ($60/yr, its priciest).
What this adds up to over time
NAHB's Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components puts a typical refrigerator's service life at 13 years; run the RCA RFR176-B-BLACK that long and it costs about $503 in electricity, on top of whatever it cost to buy.
Weighing a replacement
Efficient as certified refrigerators go, $39/year is a reasonable baseline if you're comparing what else is on the market.
Compare current ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators before buying.
If you're keeping it
The RCA RFR176-B-BLACK already costs $39/year to run; a repair bill on top of that is the kind of expense a protection plan exists to smooth out.
How this was checked
Nothing here is estimated from a nameplate wattage; the 206 kWh/yr is ENERGY STAR's own certified figure for this model. Ranked 372 of 4,704, the RCA RFR176-B-BLACK sits in the middle of the refrigerator category, see the guide to why your state changes this number for the other half of the math.