Your refrigerator is one of the biggest energy hogs in your home. That is because of the compressor. It takes a lot of energy to run the motor and keep your food cool. It is estimated that as much as 20 percent of your home energy costs come from running your refrigerator. Knowing how to optimize its usage can really help you cut costs. here are some guidelines.
We already know that packing food tightly in a freezer can reduce the amount of energy that is needed to keep everything at a frozen temperature. You can add ice or gallon jugs of water to help fill in the space. Well, the opposite is true to the refrigerator compartment. Here you want air to be able to circulate all around the food items for the most efficiency. Keep that in mind when you organize your food.
One mistake I see many people make is to have open containers of liquids in the refrigerator. From milk to juice to water, many people simply add a glass that is half drank to the fridge to save it. But, the refrigerator works by removing humidity from the space. If you have an open source of liquid (humidity) the compressor will have to continually work to remove that humidity. So, keep your food and drinks covered.
If you have anything to defrost, from a turkey to a pie, use the refrigerator to defrost it. Pop it in there 24 hours or so before you need to use them (a little longer for a large turkey). Not only will the item release cold as it defrosts, giving the compressor a break, but it will also save you on the costs of thawing the item in the microwave.
Organize your refrigerator shelves so you won’t have to play “hunt the mustard.” (In our house it is always “hunt the yeast,” since I try to keep it in the coldest spot in the back.) This reduces the amount of time that the door remains open.
Don’t use the top of the refrigerator as a shelf. Not only is this unsightly, but it interferes with the efficiency of the compressor. And don’t forget to dust that spot often. I’m off to do that myself.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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