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Discusses the rules which the Wisconsin Division of Energy has selected for testing so that it could be used in refrigerator replacement programs. Replacement rule which depends on the energy rating of the unit; Replacement rule which depends on the manufactured date of the unit; Replacement rule which depends on the color of the unit.

Focuses on the application of the HERS home performance rating tool to a multifamily buildings in Wisconsin. Overview of the rating tool used in a single-family dwelling; Information on multifamily buildings in the state; Advantages of using a rating tool.

The article reports that Wisconsin and Home Energy have joined together to provide more tools and resources for identifying good candidates for refrigerator replacement. Home Energy is making the updated database available to a wider audience on its Web Site, along with an improved search tool. The database greatly expands the number of searchable models. Jim Mapp of the Wisconsin Division of Energy compiled electric consumption information on several hundred models from the 1940s and 50s through tedious research into old issues of Consumer Reports. Along with the new database, a faster search tool was developed. The search tool continues to support a wildcard character for those hard-to-read nameplates where the letters and numbers cannot be interpreted. Although many baseload programs use the energy rating in their replacement criterion, some agencies use the age of the unit to determine which refrigerators or freezers to remove. Wisconsin's efforts to reduce baseload electricity use have taken it along several paths. The state's weatherization program uses the refrigerator database to decide which inefficient refrigerators to replace.