Beast In The Kitchen; Fridge Can Sap Energy

Every day you walk past it in the kitchen and you might not even realize the energy it’s using to keep your food cool. The refrigerator is one of the biggest energy users in the house, but we have a way to Go Green and Save Green.

We’ve all stood here in front of the fridge, wondering what to snack on while we watch News Channel 7. While the fridge may be your friend, when it comes to energy, it’s a beast.

I’ll bet you didn’t know that 13% of the energy in your house comes from the refrigerator. Just by buying a newer, more energy efficient model, you can cut your electric costs in half.
Everyone wants an ice cold beverage, but you don’t need the inside of the fridge nearly as cold as the freezer. If we all turned up the temperature by just one little degree, we would save 3 million tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere.

Your refrigerator should be set somewhere between 37 and 40 degrees, while the freezer should be set between zero and five degrees. It’s also important to have adequate air flow behind and around the icebox, keeping it about two inches from the wall.

You can also vacuum or brush off the coils in the back a few times a year. The cleaner they are, the better they work. As for standing here loitering, think of what you want before you open the door. Or you can put your most popular items close to the edge so you have easy access.

Another thing to do is check the seals around the doors. If extra air is getting out, your fridge has to work harder to cool down. If you have any “cool” ideas for Going Green and Saving Green, email us .