It’s summertime, and that means iced tea, ice cream and a host of other items that go in your refrigerator. But it’s easy to forget how much energy that fridge takes to run – and how much energy you can waste by using it inefficiently.
The refrigerator accounts for 7 percent of the average home energy bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. For most families, that makes it the biggest energy-using appliance in the home, according to Energy Star.
There are several ways to make sure your fridge is as efficient as possible.
To start, make sure you are using just one fridge. Many families move an old refrigerator to the basement or the garage when they buy a new model for the kitchen. But that easily doubles your energy use, especially if your older fridge is actually old. Fridges made before 1980 cost about $150 a year more to operate than efficient new models, according to Energy Star. And running a fridge in a garage or unconditioned basement wastes even more energy, because those rooms will get warm in summer – and make your fridge work even harder to stay cool.
Your fridge should also be set to the right temperature – if it’s too hot, your food will spoil, but if it’s too cold you are wasting money and energy. The refrigerator compartment should be kept between 36 ° and 38°F, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, and the freezer should be set between 0° and 5°F. If your fridge is located in the sunlight or next to your stove or dishwasher, it will have a harder time maintaining these temperatures, so try to position it so that it won’t have to use any extra energy to do its work.
Once you have the cold air set inside your fridge, make sure it is staying there. Check your door seals to ensure they are working properly, and not letting the cold air from inside your fridge escape into the rest of your home. Try putting a piece of paper in the door and closing it. If the paper stays in place, your door seals are tight. If it doesn’t, they are loose and you should have a repairman look at them.
Other smaller changes add up, too. Look to see if your fridge has a power-saver switch or a switch with a similar name, like energy-saver. Many fridges have small heaters built into the wall to keep moisture from condensing on your food, but that isn’t usually a problem and you can save energy by using the power-saver switch to turn it off. Defrosting your fridge regularly also helps reduce energy use, because when ice builds up on the coils inside your fridge the compressor has to run longer to keep your food cold – and that wastes energy.
Finally, make sure the way you store and retrieve food is efficient, too. Don’t just open the fridge door when you are hungry – know what you want before you go to the fridge, and close the door quickly when you are done. Teaching children to do the same can lead to even bigger savings. Also make sure you let hot foods cool before putting them into the fridge and keep your freezer full, to help it operate at peak efficiency.
Editor's note: If all else fails, you may need to say goodbye to your old energy-sucking fridge. Appliances do have a life span and new model refrigerators are so much more efficient, you may end up saving money. For a variety of choices, go to Sears. We wouldn't think of shopping anywhere else.
Source: BecauseAction.com
