Manage your fridge and freezer
Earth Points10 
EaseEasy
Summary
Your refrigerator and freezer are among the highest energy-consumption appliances in your home. Adjust the temperature setting to strike a balance between freshness and energy consumption.
Description
Your refrigerator and freezer are likely among the highest energy consumption appliances in your home, especially if they are old! However, you can help them run more efficiently by setting an optimal temperature and using them wisely.
In most refrigerators and freezers you have the option to adjust the temperature setting. To make your appliances as energy-efficient as possible, strike a balance between setting the temperature low enough to keep your food fresh and minimize food waste (also a factor in climate change), and high enough to decrease energy consumption.
You can help them run more efficiently by doing a few small things. First, check the seals on the door and ensure the cold is not sneaking out. It is likely fine, but repair as needed.
Second, semi-regularly clean behind and underneath the refrigerator to maintain airflow if you can access them without too much trouble. Most importantly, dust off the coils or filters where the air flows. This helps them run smoother and last longer.
Third, do not under or over-fill your appliance. If you are under-filling, the cold air escapes more quickly when you open the door. Maybe you can downsize to use less energy? On the other hand, overfilling makes it more challenging for air to circulate and cool everything down. For increased efficiency, keep your appliance around three-quarters full.
In most refrigerators and freezers you have the option to adjust the temperature setting. To make your appliances as energy-efficient as possible, strike a balance between setting the temperature low enough to keep your food fresh and minimize food waste (also a factor in climate change), and high enough to decrease energy consumption.
You can help them run more efficiently by doing a few small things. First, check the seals on the door and ensure the cold is not sneaking out. It is likely fine, but repair as needed.
Second, semi-regularly clean behind and underneath the refrigerator to maintain airflow if you can access them without too much trouble. Most importantly, dust off the coils or filters where the air flows. This helps them run smoother and last longer.
Third, do not under or over-fill your appliance. If you are under-filling, the cold air escapes more quickly when you open the door. Maybe you can downsize to use less energy? On the other hand, overfilling makes it more challenging for air to circulate and cool everything down. For increased efficiency, keep your appliance around three-quarters full.
Tips
• Naturally, be smart about food safety. When reducing the temperature, be careful of food spoiling too quickly or it being too warm so bacteria grow quickly. Especially if you keep meat for a long time. Perhaps take it down a bit at a time and adjust as needed.
• If you have two controls, you can set the refrigerator and freezer temperature separately. If it is not intuitive, check your appliance manual for instructions. It can usually be found online if needed.
• Dusting around a large refrigerator might not be as easy, but you may discover that it has wheels on the bottom that help move it in and out of its location. Carefully give it a try and go slowly to avoid scratching the floor.
• To fill up your refrigerator to three-quarters full, you can supplement with airtight reusable containers filled with water. This has the added benefit of stabilizing the temperature longer during a power outage.
• Is your freezer mostly empty? Check out the Utilize your freezer action for tips on how you can save time, money, and food waste by stocking up!
• If you have two controls, you can set the refrigerator and freezer temperature separately. If it is not intuitive, check your appliance manual for instructions. It can usually be found online if needed.
• Dusting around a large refrigerator might not be as easy, but you may discover that it has wheels on the bottom that help move it in and out of its location. Carefully give it a try and go slowly to avoid scratching the floor.
• To fill up your refrigerator to three-quarters full, you can supplement with airtight reusable containers filled with water. This has the added benefit of stabilizing the temperature longer during a power outage.
• Is your freezer mostly empty? Check out the Utilize your freezer action for tips on how you can save time, money, and food waste by stocking up!
Additional Resources
Related
Track actions
Want to keep track of the actions you are trying and have already completed? Want to sort by the different actions? Download the free mobile app for easier browsing and a personalized experience.
Photo Credit
Photo by kevin turcios on Unsplash