Your refrigerator and freezer are among the biggest energy hogs in your home. About 14% of your electrical bill are generated by your fridge, which makes it the number 2 of residential electricity usage right behind the air conditioner. Switching off your refrigerator is both impractical and inconvenient, but we have put together nine ideas that can save you money.
1. Get Rid Of Your Old Refrigerator
Old refrigerators and freezers guzzle electricity. Maybe it’s time to give serious thought to replacing your appliance! Liebherr offers a wide range of very energy-efficient appliances. While all Liebherr models are designed with energy efficiency in mind, three of our models have been awarded Energy Star’s Most Efficient 2016 label: The 36″ freestanding / semi-built in CS 2062 and CBS 2062, which also keeps food fresher longer thanks to our patented BioFresh technology, and the 24″ fully integrated HC 1030.
2. Buy An Energy-Efficient Appliance
The Energy Star website gives you a good overview of a wide range of energy efficient appliances. To save money, consider buying appliances that have been awarded Energy Star’s “Most Efficient” label.
3. Location, Location, Location
Never place your refrigerator near a heat source such as an oven, cooktop or radiator. Avoid direct sunlight. Regardless of whether you have a freestanding or built-in appliance, always ensure that your refrigerator has sufficient ventilation. That way, the compressor won’t end up running continuously.
4. “Coldest” Is Not Always The Best
The FDA recommends to set the interior temperature at 40°F for the refrigerator and 0°F for the freezer. Lowering the temperature by just one degree more will raise electricity use by about six percent.. An accurate temperature setting can directly save you money. Liebherr’s MagicEye control panel shows the precise temperature and allows accurate temperature setting.
5. Always Close The Door Without Delay
Every time the refrigerator door is opened, cold air escapes and warm ambient air enters. To compensate for the temperature increase in its interior, the refrigerator must then use energy to bring the temperature back down. Always avoid opening the door unnecessarily and for too long. Make sure that stored items do not prevent the door from closing properly. Some Liebherr refrigerators will give an acoustic signal when the door remains open for more than 180 seconds.
6. Defrost Frozen Food In The Refrigerator
When you need to defrost frozen food, place it in the refrigerator. This ensure that the food is carefully defrosted. It also has an energy saving effect: Its presence cools down the refrigerator interior, reducing the amount of work that the compressor has to do.
7. Avoid Placing Hot Food In The Refrigerator*
Never put warm food in the refrigerator. This will heat up the interior, as and also raise the temperature of stored foods. Try to allow food to cool down to room temperature before you put it in the refrigerator. Putting hot food in the refrigerator will not harm the appliance, but as the temperature in the inside compartment rises, so will your energy bill. The FDA recommends to refrigerate or freeze leftovers within 2 hours after them first being served. There is a simple trick to hurry the cool down process along – instead of putting one hot serving in the refrigerator, split your leftovers over several smaller containers.
8. Defrost The Freezer Compartment
A thick layer of ice in the freezer compartment acts as insulation. The appliance has to use more energy to cool the interior. We recommend that you regularly defrost your freezer. Appliances with Liebherr’s NoFrost technology do the work for you- they never need to be defrosted.** All of our Energy Star Most Efficient models come equipped with NoFrost
9. Check Door Seals Regularly
The rubber seal is used for insulation purposes. It prevents heat exchange between the ambient air and the refrigerator. Regularly check that the seal is fully intact and seals tightly. Should this not be the case, replace it immediately!
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*Tip 7 relates to energy saving ONLY. Your appliance will continue to operate normally if you place hot food in it, but use more energy. Always take your environment into consideration. In most temperate climates or air conditioned rooms, you have up to two hours to let food cool down. In extremely hot conditions, bacteria will multiply rapidly. In this case you should transfer your leftovers to the fridge as soon as possible.
**Correct installation required. Should a thick layer of ice form in your NoFrost freezer, contact your dealer or our service department immediately.
DISCLAIMER: This article has been written for entertainment purposes. While following these tips may help you save money, no contractual liability is implied or should be assumed. The total amount of your electricity bill depends on a variety of factors. While these tips may help you regardless of the refrigerator and / or freezer brand in your home, this article was written with the specifications of a LIEBHERR appliance in mind.
