Importance of high efficiency
Using the best available technologies can save you money by saving energy. Such appliances often provide better service than outdated and inefficient technologies. These newer designs often cost more initially than their cruder counterparts but can have impressively short payback times. The importance of high efficiency appliances becomes doubly important for someone providing their own electricity. For example: a high efficiency refrigerator might be run with three 60 watt PV modules where as a conventional refrigerator might necessitate an additional 9 modules and additional battery capacity. This extra generating and storage capacity will cost many times the investment of the more efficient unit. An additional benefit is that more efficiency means less run time and less wear and tear on components. In the case of the refrigerator this can mean a life span twice that of the conventional unit.
