Refrigerators and Freezers

Refrigerators and freezers are two of the most significant energy-consuming appliances. Only comfort conditioning (heating and cooling) and water heating use more energy. While most people are aware of the importance of saving energy on heating, cooling, and water heating, the energy consumed by refrigerators and freezers is often overlooked.

A ten-year-old refrigerator or freezer can cost considerably more to operate than a new energy-efficient model of the same size. Improvements in the design of compressors and cooling coils, better insulation, tighter door seals, and other design improvements all contribute to the higher efficiencies of newer models.

Depending on its age, your refrigerator may be so inefficient that replacing it is the wisest decision. Considering the savings in energy costs, a new refrigerator will pay for itself in just a few years. However, a major purchase like this is not often practical. If your refrigerator is running well, it's hard to justify buying a new one.

When you have decided it's time to retire that old refrigerator, shop around for an energy-efficient model. Even though federal law mandates minimum energy-efficiency levels, there are variations from model to model. In the meantime, here are some suggestions for improving your current refrigerator's performance and efficiency.

General Tips

• The single most important action you can take to reduce energy costs associated with refrigeration is to remove or unplug unnecessary refrigerators or freezers. Often, second refrigerators or freezers are under used or unused appliances stuck in a corner of the basement. What's more important is these appliances are commonly older models that were replaced with a newer model and then kept as a "spare". Consolidate your fresh and frozen foods into one appliance and you'll see the savings. Most used refrigerators and freezers can be recycled. Check with a local appliance dealer. Also, be sure to remove the doors from unused refrigerators to keep small children from becoming trapped inside.

• Check the Door Seals. Gaskets on your refrigerator /freezer door can deteriorate over time. Gaskets that do not seal properly can waste a lot of energy. To check the gasket, place a dollar bill or piece of paper between the door and the refrigerator as you close it. If you can move the paper freely from the door, it is not sealed tightly. Another method is to put a light inside the refrigerator to check for leaks. If you can see light around the door gasket, it is not sealing properly.

• Check the Temperature. The temperature inside your refrigerator should be between 36° and 38° F. This is usually the mid-level setting on the temperature controls on most refrigerators. Use a thermometer to check the temperature and adjust accordingly. Freezers should operate from 0° to 5° F. Keeping temperatures just 10° F below recommended temperatures can increase energy use by as much as 25%.

• Unplug the refrigerator and clean the dust from the back or bottom coils twice a year. Make sure there is at least 3 inches of air space between the back of the refrigerator and the wall, and at 1" on both sides of the refrigerator to allow for good air circulation.

• If your refrigerator has a switch for an energy saver mode, use it. This feature disables a small heater in your refrigerator that is used to prevent moisture from building up on the outside of the refrigerator. Unless you see condensation on your refrigerator, keep this switch off.

• Defrost Regularly. Manual and partial automatic defrost refrigerators and freezers should be defrosted at least twice a year.

• Don't put hot foods and left over meals directly into the refrigerator or freezer. Allow them to cool to room temperature first.

• Cover Foods and Liquids. Foods and especially liquids will release moisture and cause the refrigerator to use more energy.

• Full freezers operate more efficiently. If your freezer isn't full, fill plastic containers with water and freeze them. This will also help in the event of a power outage.

• As always, the easiest way to conserve ... Keep the door closed.
  

Freezers

Make the most of the freezer compartment in your refrigerator. If a stand-alone freezer is absolutely necessary there are two options: upright or front loading, and chest or top loading freezers. Chest freezers are about 25% more efficient than uprights, as illustrated in the table below.

Manual defrost is found more commonly in freezers today. Since freezers are opened less frequently than refrigerators, frost does not build as quickly. In addition, manual defrost freezers will not dehydrate foods (freezer burn) as an automatic defrost freezer would.