As published in the Lafayette Today newspaper.
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Refrigerators and freezers consume about a sixth of all electricity in a typical American home and about 10% of the total energy (including gas) in the average California home - using more electricity than any other single household appliance. Why? Because they are very large appliances that are on 24 hours a day.
The costliest refrigerator is the one you don't really need but run anyway - the extra fridge keeping a six-pack cold in the garage. Second refrigerators and freezers are often under-used or unused appliances. They also tend to be older, less efficient models. Old refrigerators are real energy hogs, using as much as 2400 kilowatt hours of electricity per year! If you have one and don't use it much or don’t keep it full, you could slash your electric bill by 5%, and save $100-$300 per year by simply unplugging it. If needed, just plug it in for special occasions. There is no faster or easier way to cut your electricity use.
- Don't leave fridge doors open any longer than necessary. Label leftovers so you can quickly see what they are.
- Set refrigerator temperature between 35-38°F, and freezer compartment at 0°F for maximum efficiency and food safety. Keeping the temperatures colder than safety dictates uses up to 25 percent more energy, and will freeze your milk and lettuce.
- If your refrigerator has an energy saver mode, use it. This feature disables a small heater that is used to prevent moisture from building up on the outside. Unless you see condensation on your fridge, keep this setting on.
- Don't put hot foods and leftover meals directly into the fridge or freezer. Allow them to cool first.
- Cover liquids and wrap foods. Uncovered foods release moisture, making the compressor work harder.
- Make the most of the freezer compartment in your refrigerator. This is more energy efficient than having a stand-alone freezer.
- Keep your freezer and refrigerator full--but not so full that air can't circulate. The mass of cold items inside will help your refrigerator recover each time the door is opened. If your refrigerator is nearly empty, store water-filled containers inside.
- Vacuuming coils can improve efficiency by up to 30% (California Energy Commission). Unplug first.
- Defrosting frozen food in refrigerators helps keep refrigerator cold.
If you do get rid of an older refrigerator or freezer, please dispose of it properly. If you're thinking about purchasing a new refrigerator-freezer or a separate freezer, check the annual energy cost on the Energy Guide label to find the most economical unit to operate.
For more information on refrigerators or freezers, please refer to California’s Consumer Energy Center: http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/appliances/refrigerators.html. If you’d like to find out what your old refrigerator costs to operate or how to dispose of it then visit: http://www.recyclemyoldfridge.com/
To read success stories about how residents in Lafayette are saving energy and reducing their impact on the environment, please visit www.sustainablelafayette.net
link to PDF of Lafayette Today that
included article on page 10