Energy Saving Tips For Your Fridge Freezer

Saving energy isn't just good for the environment - it helps to save money too and with the cost of living going up, it's more important than ever to save where you can.

Running all day every day, your fridge freezer works harder than any of your other kitchen appliances and according to Metro.co.uk, accounts for 12% of the average household's energy bill, costing around £114.24 a year (for an A-rated appliance: the cost will increase as the efficiency decreases).

Set your temperature

To save energy, your fridge freezer should be kept at around 3-5 degrees and your freezer should be around -18 degrees.

This allows your fridge/freezer to keep your food as fresh as possible, without using unnecessary amounts of additional energy.

NOTE: If you made changes to the temperature of your fridge freezer, it takes around 24 hours for your appliance to adjust.

Let your leftovers cool down

Always leave any leftovers out to cool to room temperature before you put them in the fridge. Putting them in before they've cooled will make the temperature of your fridge hotter and force it to work harder to cool down, which will push up your energy bills.

Fridge/freezer stacking hacks

It can be difficult to find what you're looking for in a badly organised fridge; this means the door will be open longer and lead to more energy wastage. If your fridge is over-stocked, it can also prevent the cold air from circulating properly.

Your freezer works at its best when its fully stocked however so if you have any spare space, use ice packs or bottles of frozen water to fill the gaps and keep the temperature low and improve energy efficiency.

You can also preserve the lifespan of your groceries by storing them in the correct sections of the fridge; not only does this help you save energy, but time and money too, by preventing excess spending on foods that spoil before you eat them.

According to LG, the coldest to warmest spots in your appliance are:

• Inner freezer - it's best to keep meat and seafood here

• Freezer shelves

• Freezer door

• Inner fridge - best for meat

• Crisper drawers - best for vegetables and fruit

• Fridge shelves/door - best for sauces, jams and relishes

Keep your fridge/freezer running at its best

There are steps you can take to keep your appliance running at its best; by keeping it cleans and well maintained, you can prolong the lifespan.

It may also be time for an upgrade - you can check the label on your appliance to see what the energy rating is. Products are rated from A to G - with A being the most energy-efficient and G being the least. If you're in need of an upgrade, look for an A rated appliance to cut costs and help the environment too.