Apart from making energy efficient lighting choices for your house, you also have to make the right choices when it comes to cutting down your utility costs. One thing that many people ignore though is that their home appliances can take up quite a big chunk of their home energy consumption. It’s the refrigerator which leads the pack in terms of energy consumption here. Even though recent models are more energy efficient, you will still need to be involved if you want to reduce the costs of running a fridge.
Tip #1
Keep your refrigerator chill. Just make sure you don’t take the temperature too low. The colder you make it, the more energy you will need to run it. You need to find the perfect balance between energy efficiency and food safety. Keep the freezer at -17 degrees Celsius and the fridge at 4 degrees Celsius for optimum performance.
Tip #2
Ensure you eliminate any dust buildup from the rear parts of your fridge. Dirty coils will make it harder for your fridge to cool and will obviously increase energy consumption. Try dusting or vacuuming the coils regularly in order to improve their efficiency.
Tip #3
Always keep the fridge well stocked. This helps by reducing the space which requires cooling. The unit will chill a lot faster this way. Try keeping it as packed as you can without stuffing it to an extent that you hinder its cooling performance.
Tip #4
Choose the right location for your fridge. Keep it far away from the radiator, oven, stove or any other heat source in your home. You will find it works more efficiently when you leave open spaces around it. Keep it away from the walls too to ensure it runs efficiently.
Tip #5
Make sure you let any food cool down before you put it inside the refrigerator. Hot dishes will only make the unit work harder since it takes longer for them to cool. Let any food cool for at least a couple of hours before you put it in the refrigerator. Make sure you don’t over cool the food either or you will run the risk of bacteria growing inside it. Ensure you place lids on any liquids or foods inside your fridge too so that the surface which needs to be chilled is minimized.
Tip #6
And lastly, minimize the number of times you open the fridge door. It helps if you know exactly what you’re going to do when you open the fridge door and spend as little time as possible with it open. Whenever the door is opened, the inside of the unit will get warm and will need additional energy to cool down. It’s wise to keep your fridge well organized so you don’t spend too much time looking for things.
