All About Refrigerators

What do you know about your refrigerator … besides what’s in it? Your refrigerator does a lot more than keep your food cold. Believe it or not, it is probably using more electricity than any other appliance in your kitchen.

A couple facts:

• Approximately 9% of your electricity use goes to your fridge and/or freezer; in some cases, up to 15% of the homes total energy use.
• The condenser coils behind or underneath you refrigerator help it get rid of the heat it takes out of the food compartment. When dust or pet hair builds up on the coils (and it inevitably does), they don’t work as efficiently, so the refrigerator motor has to work harder—which mean it uses more energy.

Here are some things you can do to make sure your refrigerator is running efficiently:

• Keep your fridge and freezer at the right temperature. If they’re only 10 degrees colder than necessary, your energy consumption can go up by 25%. By keeping an eye on the temperature, you can keep a lid on energy use. Refrigerators should be set between 35 and 40 degrees. Freezers should be set between 0 and 5 degrees.
• Make sure the door is tightly sealed. If it’s not, you’re wasting energy. Check the rubber seal for cracks and dried-on food.
• Use the “power-saver” switch if your refrigerator has one. It controls a small heater built into the face of the narrow panel that divides the freezer from the fridge to keep water droplets from forming on the panel in humid weather. Turn the heater off except when it’s humid.
• Keep the condenser coils clean. Brush or vacuum them at least twice a year to make them more energy efficient. Note: Don’t use a sharp instrument; you might puncture the coils.
• If you have an extra refrigerator in your garage it could be costing you an average of $100 per year. Unplug it and start saving energy and money on your bill.

Did you know that the food you put in your fridge can actually affect its energy efficiency?

• It’s better to keep your refrigerator and freezer as full as you can because food retains cold better than air. But don’t overcrowd it; cold air needs to circulate.
• Capping containers that hold liquids keeps down the humidity inside the refrigerator and reduces the amount of water that accumulates in the pan under the unit.
• You can move food you need to defrost from the freezer to the fridge a day before you need it. That way, the frozen food gives the motor a break in cooling the refrigerator as it thaws.

If you’re looking for a new refrigerator, buy ENERGY STAR. ENERGY STAR qualified appliance use 10-50 percent more energy efficient that standard traditional models. Idaho Power also offers a $30 incentive for select ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators. Visit www.energystar.gov for a list of ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators.