Model
Dcs RS36(X)
Rank #807 means 806 of the 1,000 refrigerator models we track cost less to run each year; the 42nd efficiency percentile means it uses less energy for its size than 42% of those models.
What does the Dcs RS36(X) cost to run per year?
Do the math and the Dcs RS36(X)'s $104/yr puts it at rank #807 of 1,000, one of the costlier refrigerator models we track to keep running. It uses 10% less energy than the U.S. federal standard model in its class, which would cost about $114/yr to run, a saving of roughly $10 a year. Adjusted for size, it is more efficient than 42% of refrigerator models we track, a middling result. At 16.8 cu ft, it is a mid-size refrigerator for the class, which runs 1.2 to 31.7 cu ft; size and efficiency are the two levers behind the figure above, and this dataset does not carry a separate efficiency-factor column for this class.
Immediately around it on the leaderboard, the Thor Kitchen BCD-606WHI at $104/yr runs a little cheaper and the Fisher & Paykel RF203**** at $104/yr runs a little more, a sense of how tightly models are packed at this point in the ranking. A refrigerator typically stays in service for somewhere around 12 years; over that span, the Dcs RS36(X)'s $104/yr adds up to roughly $1248 in electricity alone, before purchase price or repairs.
By the numbers
The Dcs RS36(X) normalized against its whole class, so each figure means something.
What it costs you over time
Running cost is an every-year number, so it compounds. At $104/yr, here is what the Dcs RS36(X) adds up to before purchase price, water, or repairs enter the math.
Left running for a decade at today's US average rate, the Dcs RS36(X) costs about $1040. That is roughly $100 less than a standard model in its class, which would run closer to $1140 over the same ten years.
How the Dcs RS36(X) compares
The refrigerator class we track runs from $8 to $149 a year. At $104/yr, it runs about $40 a year above the class median of $64, and it is about $96 a year more than the cheapest refrigerator to run at $8. Against the US federal standard model for its class at about $114/yr, the Dcs RS36(X) uses 10% less energy.
What drives its running cost
At 16.8 cu ft, the Dcs RS36(X) is a mid-size refrigerator for its class, which spans 1.2 to 31.7 cu ft with a median of 12.6 cu ft, neither the size advantage of a small unit nor the size penalty of a large one applies here, so its running cost is a fairer test of efficiency alone.
- Interior volume. Cubic feet of interior volume is the first thing that scales a fridge's running cost up or down, before compressor quality even enters the picture.
- Counter depth vs standard depth. Counter-depth models sit flush with cabinets but usually hold less interior volume than a standard-depth model of the same width, which can nudge the per-cubic-foot running cost either way.
- Compressor technology. Newer variable-speed (inverter) compressors modulate output instead of cycling fully on and off, which tends to use less energy for the same cooling job than an older fixed-speed compressor.
- Placement and ventilation. A fridge pushed tight against a wall or cabinet, or standing next to an oven or in direct sun, works harder to shed the heat its compressor produces, which can push real-world cost above the published figure.
Common questions
Is the Dcs RS36(X) cheap to run?
Not especially. At $104 a year it ranks #807 of 1,000 refrigerator models we track, in the pricier part of its class to run, though its size and features may still justify that for your needs.
How much does the Dcs RS36(X) cost per month?
Roughly $8.68/mo, spreading the $104/yr estimate evenly across twelve months at $0.1856/kWh. Actual monthly bills swing with your rate and usage pattern.
How is this running-cost figure calculated?
We take the model's published annual energy use of 561 kWh from ENERGY STAR and multiply it by the US average residential electricity rate of $0.1856/kWh, giving about $104 a year. It is an electricity-only estimate and does not include purchase price, water, or installation.
How efficient is the Dcs RS36(X) for its size?
42nd percentile once size is factored in. That means its size-adjusted efficiency is not the main reason for the running-cost figure above; its capacity plays a large role too.
Cheaper to run in the same class
| Rank | Model | Cost/yr |
|---|---|---|
| 806 | Thor Kitchen BCD-606WHI20 cu ft | $104 |
| 805 | Miele KFMC 3836 L16.5 cu ft | $104 |
| 804 | Gaggenau RVB47779016.5 cu ft | $104 |
| 803 | Forno FFRBI1844-36**20 cu ft | $104 |
| 802 | Miele KFNF 9955 iDE18.9 cu ft | $103 |
Source
ES_31708_RS36(X)_08052015164529_3129572View certified refrigerator listingsENERGY STAR data as of July 2026Dcs and RS36(X) are used here for identification only and are not endorsements. Figures are computed by WattWise Labs from public ENERGY STAR data, not measured in our own lab.