Would you like to make refrigerator energy savings that save you money each month on your electricity bill? What if you could apply some simple but effective methods to make your refrigerator work more efficiently? Refrigerators and fridge/freezer combinations account for a significant part of your annual electricity bill, mainly because they are constantly in use and are rarely switched off. Therefore refrigerator energy savings can be a particularly helpful way of saving you money in the long term on your electricity bill. If your refrigerator was made after 2001 it is likely that it will use around 60% of the energy of a pre 2001 model, mainly because energy efficiency in our household appliances has improved dramatically over the last ten years. However with rising electricity prices and, according to the energy saving trust an average cost of 12p per kilowatt hour, there are a number of ways that you can increase your refrigerator energy savings just by taking some simple measures, which we have highlighted below.

Faulty or damaged door seals will enable the cold air circulating in your refrigerator to escape and/or allow warm air from outside to infiltrate your refrigerator. This has serious financial implications because it means that your appliance is not working in the most energy efficient way and will limit the refrigerator energy savings that you can make. To check that your refrigerator door seals are working correctly take a £5 note and close the door on half of it. If after closing the door you can still slide out the £5 note, this means that your seals have failed and you spending more money on keeping your refrigerator at a constant temperature.

2. Set Your Refrigerator At The Right Temperature

Many refrigerators now come with temperature control facilities that allow you to adjust the temperature of your refrigerator as and when required. Many people automatically select the lowest setting but your refrigerator does not need to be less than 0º -5ºC (32º -41ºF) and your freezer -18ºC (0ºF). If you set the temperature settings lower you will simply be spending more money by using an excessive amount of electricity that is actually required. Simply by knowing the correct temperature you can ensure that you make further refrigerator energy savings.

3. Defrost Your Refrigerator Regularly.

Some of the biggest refrigerator energy savings come from ensuring that you defrost regularly. If you allow ice to build up your refrigerator needs to work harder to ensure the freezer compartment works efficiently, which means that it has to expend more energy and consumes more electricity in the process. Ensure that you schedule time to regularly defrost your refrigerator freezer compartment, ideally every other month. Defrosting your refrigerator on a regular basis also means that it involved less work than if you defrosted it once a year because there will be less ice to remove.

You can also now buy “Frost Free” refrigerators which means that the freezer section does not ice up like traditional freezers, but still keeps your food frozen. Having owned one of these for the past two years they require no defrosting and you will benefit from the energy savings of not having ice build up in the freezer section.

4. Refrigerator Placement

Thinking about where to position your refrigerator can help you to increase your refrigerator energy savings significantly. Try to avoid placing your refrigerator next to appliances that generate heat like ovens and driers. Even washing machines and dishwashers generate significant volumes of heat when they are in operation all of which means that your refrigerator has to work harder to keep cool, which requires more energy and increases your electricity usage, thus increasing your monthly electricity bill. The refrigerator condenser coils at the back of your appliance are especially sensitive and it is important to ensure that you allow space around and above the refrigerator so that it has good ventilation and consumes less energy to keep it cool. Fitted cupboards and kitchens may look neat and tidy but hiding your refrigerator behind these may reduce the opportunity for good ventilation and reduce refrigerator energy savings.

5. Clean Condenser Coils Regularly

Also ensure that the condenser coils at the back of your fridge are kept free from dust or dirt and grease build up. These are the life blood of your refrigerator and are essential for it’s smooth operation. Ensuring that these are regularly cleaned or hovered every month could increase their efficient working by as much as 20-30%, thus generating further refrigerator energy savings.

6. Avoid Overfilling Your Refrigerator

It is often tempting to pack your refrigerator and freezer with as many food items as possible especially if you have limited time and depend on ready meals or quick meal options, or alternatively just love picking up bargains at the supermarket. However overfilling your refrigerator or freezer means that your appliance has to work harder to stay at a constant temperature because there is more food to keep cool. You can make substantial refrigerator energy savings by ensuring that it is not more than two thirds full at any time in order to gain maximum efficiency. This process will also reduce your annual electricity bill and help you save money in the long term.

Where possible try to buy food items twice a week rather than just once, that way there are less food items in your refrigerator or freezer at any given time which will maximise your refrigerator energy savings. This simple change in your buying habits can make a real difference to your annual electricity bill.

7. Avoid Excessive Heat

It is sometimes common to place warm or luke warm food items into your refrigerator, because you have not got time to wait for it to cool completely. Instead wait until food is completely cool before placing it into the refrigerator. This will ensure that your refrigerator is not having to work overtime to compensate for the sudden heat differential and will ensure that you maximise your refrigerator energy savings.

8. Make The Right Refrigerator Purchase

The best way to make refrigerator energy savings and save money on your annual electricity bill is to buy an energy efficient model from the start. These are designed to minimise energy consumption and are rated according to how they perform. The highest rating is currently A++ and there is a strict criteria for it to meet in order to attain this rating. Energy efficient refrigerators are a great way to reduce the impact on the environment whilst ensuring you get the best possible refrigerator energy savings throughout the lifetime of the appliance. Typically A++ rated refrigerators are around 60% more efficient than older models.

The Energy Saving Trust has a wealth of information about energy saving refrigerators and offer advice about what to look for and how to ensure that you are not duped into buying unnecessary features.

Click here to view all electricity & utilities money saving guides

Check out some of our other featured electricity & utilities guides to help you save money;