On average, 6% more electricity is consumed by the refrigerator when the room temperature increases by 1˚

1 cm of ice on the walls of the refrigerator increases its electricity consumption by 75%

As winter approaches, every household seeks to optimize its electricity costs. Home appliances, whether for heating, cooling or for other purposes, consume electricity more efficiently when used correctly and wisely.

Refrigerators, for example, work 24 hours a day. Their use in accordance with the principles of energy efficiency can significantly reduce electricity consumption. According to the calculations of specialists, one refrigerator spends about 12% of the monthly electricity consumption in the household.

ENERGO-PRO, the electricity distribution company in North-East Bulgaria, offers its customers several useful tips to improve the efficiency of their refrigeration unit and optimize their monthly electricity costs:

Place the refrigerator away from a stove, heating appliances and direct sunlight. The higher the temperature near the coolant, the more energy will be spent on its operation. With every degree above 20°C, its consumption increases by about 6%. Periodically check that air circulates freely in the space behind the refrigerator, and clean the ventilation grille from dust so that the heat released can be removed quickly. This improves the energy efficiency of the appliance. Check and clean the refrigerator door seals regularly. If the seal is damaged or peeled off, or the door is defective, replace them as soon as possible. Improved thermal insulation can save up to 40% of the electricity that the appliance consumes.Avoid frequent and prolonged opening of the refrigerator or freezer. In a year, the consumption of this action can reach 100 kWh.Watch for the optimum temperature in the coolers. In the refrigerator, 5° C is sufficient, in the freezer - minus 18° C. It is necessary to distribute the food on the shelves correctly so that the air can circulate freely and, accordingly, the consumption of electricity decreases. Place the products at a distance of at least 2 cm from the inner walls. Most efficiently, the unit operates at 2/3 filled internal volume. If the refrigerator or freezer is overfilled, the energy used for cooling will be 25 percent more. Prefer glass to plastic storage containers. Glass retains low temperatures better and thus the appliance more effectively maintains the internal temperature.Do not leave open bottles and open containers with liquid food in the refrigerator. Fumes make the compressor work harder, respectively, and electricity consumption becomes larger.Do not put hot products in the refrigerator or freezer. Pre-cooling food saves electricity and prolongs the life of the appliance. Food products should only be put in the freezer properly packaged. It is important that the packages are relatively flat and there is a minimum amount of air in them. This allows faster and more efficient freezing.The inclusion of the Super Cool/Super Freeze function to be used only if large quantities are cooled. This mode in the latest generation appliances allows rapid cooling/freezing. Regular defrosting is energy-saving. The ice formed in the refrigerator or freezer significantly increases electricity costs (1 cm of ice increases electricity consumption by approximately 75%). If your refrigerator is more than 10 years old, replace it with a new one. This investment can halve the amount of electricity you use when using the appliance. The latest models of cooling appliances also have an energy-saving Holiday function for the time you are away from home. Avoid refrigerators with a built-in camera, because they consume more energy.When buying a new refrigerator, it is worth investing in class A for energy efficiency.

The series of ENERGO-PRO tips for saving electricity will continue with other effective ways to improve the performance of the most commonly used household appliances. With their proper use and with minimal daily effort, we can extend their life and optimize our electricity costs. More globally, energy efficient consumption is important to prevent climate change.