Ensure your refrigeration is not too cold
From a food safety point of view, if you have meat or dairy in a fridge, the temperature should be below 5°C.[1] With a freezer, the temperature should be set between minus15°C and minus18°C.[2]
For every degree that you set your fridge or freezer colder than these levels, you will increase your running costs by 2–4%.[3]
Using a thermometer will show if your equipment is at the right temperature. It will also show if your fridge and freezer thermostats are setting the temperatures properly.
If you’re not sure if you have the right temperature levels, get a refrigeration specialist or EcoSmart Electrician to look over your equipment when they’re doing their next maintenance check.
- You can find a refrigeration specialist via the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC): EnergyCut.info/arc-search
- You can find an EcoSmart Electrician via EnergyCut.info/eco-smart
“Reducing a refrigerator’s temperature by 1°C can increase its energy consumption by 2–4%” [4]
Watch out for frost
Keep your freezers frost-free! Any ice build-up greater than about 5mm in thickness will act as an insulator, leading to increased energy consumption and cost.[5]
Where necessary, defrost regularly as excessive ice build-up will reduce the operating efficiency of your refrigeration units.
Craft Victoria, VIC
As part of a raft of energy efficiency measures, Craft Victoria saved money by reducing refrigeration energy costs. They previously ran two fridges 365 days a year but now they only use the larger fridge eight days a year as required for functions.[6]