It's hard to imagine a home nowadays without a fridge. However, how often do we think about how energy efficient it is, how much electricity it consumes and how to reduce that consumption? Specialists of the Elektrum Energy Efficiency Centre provide recommendations for the purchase and efficient use of a new fridge.

When purchasing any electrical appliance, it is important to read the energy efficiency label – it provides important information about the appliance's power, size, volume and other characteristics.

You can find the following information on the energy label of a fridge:

1. Model and make of the electrical device
2. Energy efficiency class
3. Projected power consumption, kWh/year
4. Freezer capacity, in litres
5. Chilled storage section capacity, in litres
6. Noise level, in decibels, and noise level class

Please note that the highest energy efficiency class was A+++, however from 1 March 2021 a new energy label has been introduced for certain groups of electrical appliances, with energy efficiency classes on a scale of A to G. The higher the class, the lower the electricity consumption and higher the performance quality.

The QR code is available in the upper right corner of the label. It is a barcode used to provide the customer with additional product information. Most smartphones have a built-in QR code scanner in the camera, but if not, there are separate free apps available. When you open your phone’s camera or app and point your phone at the QR code, a website with additional information prepared by the manufacturer about the item will be opened.

A critical factor in choosing a fridge is its capacity – larger-volume fridges consume the most power. Choose the capacity of your fridge based on the size of your family, the quantity of food you need, and how often you cook. If your previous fridge was half-empty all the time, maybe you should buy a smaller one. But if you want to keep seasonal foods in the freezer, buying a separate freezer unit is a good option.

Do I really have to change my old, but still functional fridge?

You should start thinking about buying a new fridge if your current one is at least 10 years old: the amount of energy it consumes can be up to 50% higher than what a modern fridge does.

There are three main factors affecting the power consumption of a fridge:

1. Temperature set in the fridge

Set the fridge temperature to +5 °C, and the freezer temperature to -18 °C. For every degree unnecessarily below that, the fridge’s power consumption rises 5%. If the fridge has a temperature controller without specific temperature levels, you can check the temperature by putting a thermometer suitable for such temperatures in the fridge.

Fridges in which you can adjust the temperature of the cooling part and the freezer part separately are particularly energy-efficient.

2. Filling the fridge with products

To avoid unnecessary electricity consumption, it is recommended to fill the fridge at least 60%, but not more than 90% – position the products so that the air can circulate.

3. Fridge location

Install the fridge far from sources of heat, such as heaters, cookers and other appliances that emit heat during operation, and away from direct sunlight. We also do not recommend putting your fridge too close to a wall, in a corner of a room or inside a niche, as this will prevent the circulation of air, and increase the consumption of power. There should be 5–10 cm of free space around the fridge for air circulation.

Remember that you should only integrate in kitchen furniture the kinds of fridges that are intended for it. By integrating a stand-alone fridge, you will get a huge increase in power consumption.

When selecting a fridge, keep in mind that built-in fridges consume about 20% more power than stand-alone ones.

Advice on how to reduce the electricity consumption of the fridge on a daily basis

• Store food in sealed containers or wrap it. This will keep the food fresh for longer and will not create unwanted moisture and aroma in the fridge.
• Do not put hot products in the fridge. Steam contributes to the formation of icing in the fridge cooler, thus increasing electricity consumption.
• Do not open and close the fridge door too often or leave it open for a long time. Otherwise, warm air will enter the fridge making it necessary to lower the temperature again.
• Check how tightly the fridge door closes. If it is difficult to pull out a sheet of paper pressed in the fridge door, everything is fine. If the sheet slips out of the door, we recommend cleaning the sealing rubber, if it is damaged, replace it so that warm air does not enter the fridge.
• At least once a quarter, also remove dust from the grille on the back of the fridge, which prevents cooling.
• Defrost an older generation fridge regularly, as every centimetre of ice in the freezer increases electricity consumption by about 10%.
• Unplug the fridge and clean it once a year.