How to Make Your Refrigerator More Energy Efficient

The refrigerator is the one appliance that accounts for most of your energy bill. It runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year around. So how can you save money by making your refrigerator more energy efficient?

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Refrigerator

1. To begin, only run one refrigerator in your home. One large refrigerator is cheaper to run than several smaller units.

2. Do not place your refrigerator next to or near a heat source. If possible, move it away from stoves, ovens, dishwashers, and heaters. Direct sunlight is also a source of heat, so either move the refrigerator or install curtains or blinds on the window to block the sun.

3. Periodically inspect the seal of the refrigerator door to make sure it is clean. If there is any dried on food or other kinds of debris it can cause the door not to seal when it shuts and thus let out a bunch of cold air. A clean refrigerator can cut your energy costs.

4. Remove dust and debris from the coils on the back of the refrigerator by vacuuming to increase the refrigerator's energy efficiency.

5. Fill up the freezer. If there is empty space in your freezer, find something to freeze so that you are not just keeping air cold. It is harder on your freezer to constantly cool air than it is to keep a frozen object cold.

[xtraordinary]

on 2/27/2009 Very thorough and well-written article - I never would have thought of some of these things! 5 stars!

[MI-Sandi]

on 2/17/2009 5* Great tips on energy saving. There are endless things that people could do to save energy, and cut costs, if they would think about it.

[Knowpher]

on 2/3/2009 Great tips! I bet the sunlight and filling the freezer tips save substantial amounts! 5*