A full refrigerator uses less energy to operate than an empty one.
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Appliances
Door Seals
Make sure your refrigerator door seals are air tight. Test them by closing the door over a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out easilly, the latch may need to be adjusted or the seal may need to be replaced.
Moisture Control
Look for a refrigerator with automatic moisture control. Models with this feature have been engineered to prevent moisture accumulation on the cabinet exterior without the addition of a heater. This is not the same thing as an “anti-sweat” heater. Models with an anti-sweat heater will consume 5% to 10% more energy than models without this feature.
Wasteful Vents
Use kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans wisely. Turn these fans off as soon as they are no longer needed. In about 1 hour, these fans can pull out a house-full of warmed or cooled air.
Cold Water Wash
To save energy, wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents when-ever possible.
Freezer Savings
You know that old freezer “Uncle Harry” gave you to use in the basement so you could save money by storing on-sale food items? Well, it costs more to run that freezer for a year than you’ll ever see in returns on food savings. If you’re looking to save energy, and money, it makes more sense to have only one, well running, efficient refrigerator/freezer.
Simple Fixes
Before you tear into a repair job, start by checking for the simplest cause instead of assuming the worst. For example, before replacing fuses or breakers, first check for burned-out bulbs. If a faucet is working poorly, check for debris lodged in the faucet’s aerator before tearing the faucet apart. Likewise, first make sure equipment and appliances are plugged in. By checking for the simple causes when a problem occurs you can save yourself from wasting time, effort and money in making unnecessary repairs.
Refrigerator Position
Position your refrigerator away from sunny windows, hot water heaters, warm air from heating ducts, radiators, stoves and other heat sources. The heat makes cooling harder for your refrigerator.
Too Cold
Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37° to 40°F for the fresh food compartment of the refrigerator and 5°F for the freezer section. If you have a separate freezer for long-term storage, it should be kept at 0°F.
Dishwasher Shopping
When shopping for a dishwasher, look for features that will reduce water use, such as booster heaters and smart controls. Ask how many gallons of water the dishwasher uses during different cycles. Dishwashers that use the least amount of water will cost the least to operate.
