The cold, hard truth: Your fridge uses quite a bit of energy

There are a variety of ways to save energy throughout your home, and one of them is to pay attention to how you use your refrigerator. By doing a few simple things, you can help it run more efficiently, which in turn will help you pocket a little savings on your monthly energy bill.

• Think before opening the door – Know what you want so you don’t have the door open any longer than it needs to be. When cool air escapes, the refrigerator works harder.
• Don’t overdo the cold – The fridge’s inside temperature should be no lower than 37 degrees Fahrenheit. The freezer should be between zero and five above. Check the temperature by putting a thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator and another between packages in the freezer. Check both thermometers after 24 hours.
• Keep the moisture in – Cover and wrap foods to keep moisture from leaking from them. This will help keep the fridge from working overtime.
• Don’t let the ice build up – If you have a freezer that requires defrosting, be sure to do it on a regular basis.

In the market for a new refrigerator? If so, we recommend buying an ENERGY STAR^® certified model. They have more than twice the energy efficiency of older models.