eco-strata

The temperature inside your fridge should be between 2°C (35°F) and 4°C (39°F), and -18°C (0°F) for the freezer. BC Hydro warns that keeping the temperatures just 5°C cooler than the recommended temperatures can increase energy use by as much as 25%; a small thermometer can help set the temperature of your refrigerator accurately.

Old fridges were built to last, but use more electricity — sometimes more than twice as much — than modern and efficient ones. However, from a lifecycle perspective, replacing a fridge may not be the best way to conserve energy and resources. A new fridge requires energy and resources to build, and an old fridge requires energy to be disassembled and partially recycled, and also produces waste. A recent study conducted in the US on refrigerator life cycle indicates that typical mid-sized 1994 models or older should be replaced to save both energy and money (source), so this can be used as a rule of thumb.

New fridge or old fridge, there are a couple of things to do to reduce energy consumption. Firstly, ensure that there is enough ventilation space around the condenser coils of the refrigerator (usually found at the back or underneath the fridge), and that these are vacuumed periodically. Secondly, keep the fridge and freezer full to help retain the overall coolness inside. If these appliances are not filled to capacity, then a few water-filled containers will help.

For more information on fridges and freezers, please click here.

BC Hydro also offers a fridge buy-back program; for details, click here.