Fridge efficiency is all about how well your refrigerator keeps things cold without guzzling electricity. The more efficient it is, the less energy it needs to maintain the right temperature. That means lower electricity bills for you and better-preserved food, while reducing environmental impact on the planet.
Refrigerators are indispensable appliances in modern households, humming along quietly in the background, keeping our food fresh around the clock. While their constant presence might make their energy consumption seem negligible on a daily basis, they are, in fact, among the most significant energy consumers in a typical home, running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is why it’s important to keep them functioning as efficiently as possible.
Are you wondering if you’re doing enough to keep your fridge efficient? In this blog, we will provide some tips to improve your fridge’s efficiency and explore the key factors impacting a fridge’s performance.
Practical Tips to Improve Fridge Efficiency
Consumers have more control over their refrigerator’s energy use and efficiency than they might think, regardless of the efficiency rating on the label. Smart, consistent habits can boost the performance of even an older model, while neglect can undo the benefits of a top-rated appliance.
If you want to ensure the efficiency of your fridge, follow these steps, starting today.
Everyday Habits That Save Energy
Everyday habits, like how much food you store or how often you open the fridge door, directly affect how hard the system has to work to stay cool. In other words, your daily routine plays a real role in the fridge’s overall efficiency.
1. Set the Right Temperature
Keep your fridge temperature between 0°C and 5°C and your freezer at -18°C. Setting it lower doesn’t make food last longer; it just wastes energy, since each 10-degree drop can increase energy use by up to 25%.
2. Minimise Door Openings
Try to open the door less often. Every time you open the fridge, cold air escapes and forces the compressor to work harder to restore the temperature. Try to grab everything you need in one go, and don’t linger with the door open.
3. Let Hot Food Cool First
Allow hot food to cool to room temperature before refrigerating. Putting hot leftovers straight into the fridge raises the internal temperature, which makes the system work harder.
4. Keep the Fridge Full, but Not Jammed
We are all tempted to make one huge shopping trip to avoid multiple visits to the store. However, the fridge will pay the consequences. The truth is that a packed fridge with blocked vents can’t circulate air properly. Ensure that cold air can move freely so the system doesn’t have to overcompensate to maintain a cool temperature.
5. Cover Food and Liquids
Uncovered items release moisture, which leads to frost buildup and condensation. That extra moisture makes the compressor work harder to maintain dry, cold air.
6. Making the Most of Energy-Saving Modes and Smart Features
Energy-efficient fridges often come with built-in power-saving modes and smart features designed to cut down on unnecessary energy use and help you save money. When used intentionally, these tools can lead to real savings without sacrificing performance.
Power-saving modes you should know:
- Quick Cool/Freeze
Perfect for when you’ve just loaded in a big grocery haul, this mode quickly brings new items down to the right temperature. Just don’t forget to switch it off afterwards, it uses extra energy and isn’t meant for everyday use.
- Vacation Mode
Heading out of town? Vacation mode keeps the fridge running at a slightly higher, but still safe, temperature. It reduces energy use significantly while still preventing spoilage.
- Sabbath Mode
Designed for those observing religious practices, Sabbath mode disables features like interior lights, alarms, and auto defrost. While not strictly for energy savings, it does reduce overall activity within the appliance.
Regular Fridge Maintenance That Pays Off
Regular maintenance is key for long-lasting home appliances:
1. Defrost the Freezer When Needed
If you have a manual defrost model, don’t let ice build up more than a quarter-inch thick to maintain optimal performance
2. Clean the Condenser Coils
Giving the coils a quick clean once a year can improve efficiency by as much as 30%. Dusty coils, which are usually found at the back or underneath, trap heat and force the compressor to run longer.
3. Check Your Door Seals
Try the dollar bill test: close a bill in the door and pull. If it slides out easily, your seals might be worn. If that’s the case, replace them to keep warm air out and cold air in.
Fridge Location
Yes, even the location of your fridge matters!
1. Give It Room to Breathe
Leave a few inches between the fridge and the wall so heat can escape properly. Without enough space, the unit runs hotter and less efficiently.
2. Choose a Good Spot
Avoid placing your fridge next to heat sources like ovens or dishwashers, washing machines or in direct sunlight. Every degree of extra heat in the room makes the compressor work harder.
For more tips on how to keep your fridge in top shape, check out our blog: Tips for a Healthy Fridge.
Key Factors Influencing Refrigerator Efficiency
To manage fridge efficiency effectively, it helps to understand what actually affects it. Several factors come into play, some of which are inherent to the system’s design, while others depend on how and where the fridge is used.
Thermodynamic Principles and System Components
A fridge’s efficiency is measured using something called the Coefficient of Performance (COP). COP indicates how much cooling it delivers compared to how much energy it uses. The higher the COP, the more efficient the fridge is and the less it costs to run.
The two biggest factors that influence COP are the evaporating and condensing temperatures.
- The evaporating temperature is how cold it gets inside the fridge, where heat is absorbed
- The condensing temperature is how hot the refrigerant gets when it releases that heat into the surrounding air.
Even small changes here make a big difference. For instance, raising the evaporating temperature by just 1°C, or lowering the condensing temperature, can improve efficiency by 2 to 4%.
This matters even more on hot days. When the outside temperature climbs, the condenser works harder, pressure builds up, and the compressor has to draw more power to keep up. That extra effort creates more heat, which forces the system to work even harder, and so the energy use keeps climbing. It’s a snowball effect that quickly adds up on your energy bill.
Appliance Design and Technology
A fridge’s design, and especially its age, can have a big impact on its efficiency levels. Older models often lack modern energy-saving features and may suffer from wear and tear. The newer the fridge is, the better.
Some energy-efficient features of the newest fridges include:
- High-quality insulation that minimises heat transfer from the outside environment, so the fridge doesn’t have to work as hard to stay cold and maintain the desired temperature.
- Well-sealed door gaskets are just as important. When they’re well maintained, they keep warm air out and cold air in, which takes pressure off the compressor.
- LED light bulbs consume less energy than incandescent bulbs and produce minimal heat, further reducing the cooling system load
- Advanced refrigerators also incorporate sensors that continuously monitor internal temperature and humidity, allowing the cooling system to adjust levels precisely based on what’s stored inside and usage, preventing unnecessary overcooling. Many energy-efficient refrigerators even include special modes that fine-tune performance based on the time of day or how full the fridge is, easing the load on the compressor when demand is low.
- Modern models utilise advanced compressors that consume significantly less electricity to achieve the same cooling performance as older, traditional models.
Maintenance and Strategic Placement for Adequate Ventilation
How you use your refrigerator and where it is placed have a bigger impact on energy use than you might think. Take the condenser coils, for example, when they’re covered in dust or pet hair, it’s harder for the fridge to release heat. That forces the compressor to work overtime.
Door seals are another quiet culprit. If they’re cracked, loose, or not sealing properly, warm air sneaks in and cold air escapes.
Placement matters too. Refrigerators need a few inches of space behind them for proper airflow around the coils. Squeezing them into a tight corner or pushing them flush against a wall can make them run hotter and less efficiently.
Understanding Energy Rating System (EU and UK)
When it comes to choosing an energy-efficient fridge, it helps to know what labels and numbers actually mean. Labelling systems are designed to make it easier to compare models and understand how much energy each one uses. They give you a clear, standardised way to gauge performance so you can make a smarter, more informed choice before you buy.
The EU Energy Label: What It Means and Why It Matters
First introduced in 1994, the EU energy label has become one of the most widely recognised tools for helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances, with a remarkable 93% recognition rate across Europe. It doesn’t just benefit shoppers, though; it also pushes manufacturers to innovate and improve their products.
Energy Efficiency Label Explained
The label range spans from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), replacing the older scale of A+++ to D.
Efficiency Comparison Table
| Energy Class | Annual Energy Use | Efficiency Notes |
| A | ≤ 100 kWh/year | Most energy-efficient; usually newer tech models. |
| B | 101–150 kWh/year | Very efficient, still premium performance. |
| C | 151–200 kWh/year | Good balance between efficiency and price. |
| D | 201–250 kWh/year | Average; older models may fall here. |
| E | 251–300 kWh/year | Below average efficiency. |
| F | 301–350 kWh/year | Inefficient; higher running costs. |
| G | > 350 kWh/year | Least efficient; typically outdated designs. |
Modern labels now include a QR code that links directly to the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL). In the EPREL databas, consumers can search for detailed product specs before buying, straight from the official source.
Fridge Efficiency FAQs
Do Bigger Fridges Use More Energy Than Smaller Ones?
Larger fridges typically consume more energy in total. This is because they have a larger internal volume to cool and a larger surface area from which heat can escape. However, a big, energy-efficient fridge might actually use less electricity than an old, smaller fridge that wastes energy.
What Is a Good Energy Efficiency for a Fridge?
“A”-rated fridge freezers are the most efficient models, and “G”-rated fridge freezers are the least efficient models, which could use more energy and drive your utility bills up.
Is Energy Rating D Good?
An EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of D is not considered good, but it’s not the worst either. A D rating suggests a fridge’s energy efficiency is below average but not significantly below average. While a D rating isn’t the worst, it still indicates that the fridge is using more energy than it could be and that there are opportunities to improve its energy efficiency.
How to Know If a Refrigerator Is Energy Efficient?
The more stars on the label, the more efficient a particular appliance is. You can only compare the star ratings of fridges with a similar capacity, though, as the size is used to determine their rating.
Do Fridges Use a Lot of Electricity?
Yes, refrigerators do use a significant amount of electricity, but not as much as some other appliances. Based on national average electricity prices, it can represent a bit more than 10% of the average home’s total electric expenditure. While they are energy-intensive appliances, they also cycle on and off, and newer models are more efficient.
According to Energy Saving Trust, fridges and freezers account for around 13% of the average household’s energy bill. The annual energy usage is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh) and assumes the refrigerator runs continuously for 24 hours daily throughout the year. Keep in mind that actual energy consumption can differ significantly based on your usage habits.
Is It Better to Leave an Empty Fridge on or Off?
If you are going to be away for a month or less, it’s recommended to keep the fridge running with normal settings, remove perishable food, turn off the icemaker and water supply, and add water jugs if compartments are less than half full. For long-term trips (over a month), it’s better to turn off temperature controls, disconnect power and remove all food.
Final Thoughts
A refrigerator’s efficiency isn’t just about its specs. From thermodynamic design and environmental placement to user behaviour and regular upkeep, each factor plays a role in how much energy your fridge really uses on a day-to-day basis.
With just a few simple practical adjustments, you can make a real difference, and the payoff is meaningful: lower energy costs, longer-lasting appliances, less food waste, and a lighter environmental impact.
Take care of it, and your fridge will reward you with years of dependable performance.
