How "Green" Is Your Refrigerator?

Article By:Joan Bradshaw
Director of the University of Florida /IFAS Citrus County Extension

There may be a power bandit living in your kitchen. Most Americans don't realize when it comes to electricity, their refrigerator is the greediest appliance in the house. The refrigerator can suck up 13% of your electricity each month and costs the average American household $120 per year in electricity.

Fridge Facts

• Using two smaller refrigerators is more expensive and less energy efficient than keeping one larger refrigerator.
• Brand new energy-efficient refrigerators use half as much energy as most 10 year old refrigerators which mean they can reduce your refrigerator electric bill by at least $60 per year for the next 18 years.
• If every America household turned up their refrigerator by 10F we would prevent almost 3 million tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere every year.
• The old spare refrigerator in your garage could use more than $150 per year.

Small changes go a long way toward "greening up" your refrigerator. Consider the following actions:

• Choose a cool spot for your refrigerator. Don't make it work harder than it needs to by locating it in the direct sunlight or next to a heat generator source such as dishwasher, stove, oven, or heating vents.
• Frequently Americans' refrigerators are set colder than need be. Your fridge should be set between 36°F and 40°F and your freezer should be set at 0°F. Your food will still remain cold and safe from bacteria growth plus save electricity too.
• If your refrigerator has an "Energy Saver" switch, be sure to turn it up as high as you can without forming condensation on the outside of the refrigerator.
• If you are keeping an inefficient spare refrigerator or freezer in your garage just to cool a few beverages, seriously consider recycling it. To save money and energy, either upgrade to a more efficient model or simple plug it in for the brief periods of time when you have family or friends in town for the holidays. Otherwise retire the old clunker.
• Check to be sure the door seals are air tight. If chilled air can escape from your refrigerator door, it will have to work that much harder to replace it. Test the rubber gasket seal around the door every six months. A simple test will help you determine how well the door seals. Try closing the door on a piece of paper. You should feel some resistance as you pull the paper out. If you don't, you may need to the seals replaced. Replacement can be quite expensive so it may make sense to upgrade to a new refrigerator.
• Clean the coils. Your refrigerator stays cold because it has condenser coils located on the bottom or your refrigerator. When the coil becomes dust or dirty, it doesn't function as well and it uses more energy. Unless you have a nonclean condenser model, vacuum or brunch the coils twice a year. Your refrigerator will improve its energy efficiency up to 30%.
• Check your space around the refrigerator. There should be at least two inches of space around the entire fringe so that air can flow freely and ventilate hot coils.
• Keep the door closed as much a possible. Organize the fridge contents so you know where food products are located and you don't need to leave the door open for long periods in search of your favorite pickles.
• Keep you refrigerator filled. When the door is opened, a full fridge will keep in cold air and prevent warm air from flooding in. Remember not to overcrowd items which will prevent the cold air from circulating properly.

Dr. Joan Bradshaw is the natural resource conservation faculty for specialized programs in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Sumter County University of Florida/IFAS Extension Service.

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