Refrigerators have come a long way over the past 100 years that have helped make people's lives easier. Modern refrigerators are self-defrosting and require little maintenance other than making sure it's clean. They have become more energy efficient, which means they can save you money on your utility bills and help preserve the environment. Below are five modern features that refrigerators have.

Ice Maker

Before ice makers where invented, people had to fill up ice trays with water and place them in the freezer and wait for them to freeze. It was a hassle and you always had to make sure that the ice trays were filled up or else you would have no ice for when you needed. Now most refrigerators come with an ice maker that automatically makes ice without ever having to worry refilling those pesky ice trays.

Ice and Water Dispensers

Ice and water dispensers are added benefit to a refrigerator. It allows you to get all your water drinking needs in one spot instead of having to use the kitchen faucet for water and then having to go and get ice out of the freezer. With an ice and water dispenser it's all in one spot making it convenient.

Self Defrosting Refrigerator/Freezer

Is a valuable feature that is common in all refrigerators, there is no need to manually defrost the ice buildup, most frozen food will not stick together, and smells are limited.

ENERGY STAR Refrigerators

ENERGY STAR is the symbol for energy efficiency, and is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment. When you shop for your next refrigerator choosing an energy star refrigerator will not only help you save money on your monthly utility bills but you can get the satisfaction of helping the environment. For more information on ENERGY STAR visit energystar.gov.

Notification Alarms

A good refrigerator will have an alarm to indicate that the door is not all the way closed, which would avoid unnecessary energy usage.

As you can see that with newer technology, refrigerators have come a long way since they were first invented. Modern refrigerators can make your life easier, and more convenient. Choosing an ENERGY STAR refrigerator can help save the environment and money on your monthly utility bills. These are five modern features that you will want to make sure you look for when you're looking to get rid of your old refrigerator.