Out of all the appliances around your home, refrigerators are among the major usurpers of household electricity - and often they're the prime energy user, estimated to be responsible for an average 14 percent of a given household's energy. This consumption rises drastically with inefficient fridges but can also be reduced with a few easy adjustments. Below are the top tips to make your refrigerate and freezer more eco-friendly (courtesy of the Electrolux website and a bit of additional research):
- Set the thermostat to around +4 to +5 degrees C for the fridge and -18 degrees C in the freezer. These are the optimal temperatures for ensuring good running costs and the best preservation of your food. Do not set temperatures too low because 1 degree of difference results in a 6-8% average increase in energy consumption.
- Keep your fridge and freezer full. If there is a larger volume of cold items inside, the refrigerator is better able to maintain its temperature, since there is less cold air to escape when the door opens. If you are running low on items, fill empty space in your freezer with crumpled newspapers or 3/4 full water bottles.
- Never hold the door open for an extended period of time: think before opening your fridge door, not after. It will be good for your brain function too!
- Do not put warm food in your fridge or freezer. This raises the internal temperature, consuming more energy, and can also warm up other foods. On the other hand, defrosting frozen food in the fridge compartment can be a smart move, because it gives your fridge “free” coldness.
- accumulation of ice leads to higher energy bills so defrost your freezer regularly.
- Keep the door seal clean and check its health once a year. The flexible seal prevents cold air from leaking out of the refrigerator/freezer when the door is closed. If it does not work properly, your appliance will have to work harder to maintain the low temperature. To test the seal, place a piece of paper between the seal and the refrigerator and close the door. Now pull the paper out. You should feel tension as you pull. If you don't or the paper falls off, you need to replace the seal. Do this test at various points along the entire door seal.
- If you own a freestanding appliance, make sure you regularly clean the condenser grid and keep the appliance a few centimetres away from the back wall to ensure adequate ventilation around it. Insufficient ventilation can increase energy consumption up to 10%.