It comes as no surprise to learn that fridge freezers are the most power-hungry household appliance and use the most energy of all. After all, our fridge freezers are constantly on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In fact, refrigerator appliances have doubled in energy consumption over the past 40 years. However, advancing technology is helping to make them more energy efficient.

Given refrigerator appliances tend to use around 20% of all household electricity usage, it’s certainly worth knowing how you can get the best out of your appliance. Efficient appliance use helps you avoid too many fridge-freezer repairs, as well as helping to protecting the planet.

With that in mind, let’s get into some energy saving tips for your fridge freezer.

What’s the right temperature for a fridge freezer?

Your fridge should ideally be kept at about 3 to 5 degrees. Your freezer should obviously be a lot colder though — set to around -18 degrees.

These temperatures will help slow down the growth of bacteria and keep your food fresh — without using up too much energy. Just try not to open the door too often. The cool air will escape and force your appliance to work harder.

Remember, if you change any temperature settings, it can take around 24 hours for your appliance to adjust.

Storing and organising your food

Always let hot food cool to room temperature before putting it in your fridge-freezer. Placing hot food in your freezer means the temperature of your freezer could rise. It’s also a good idea to have a system for organising the contents.

Meat and seafood should go at the bottom, so juices can’t drip down onto other items. Storing milk in the main body can help it last longer too. Keeping it in the door compartment, which most of us do, the temperature can rise when you open the fridge to take things out.


Labels are handy for keeping track of exactly what you've got in stock — especially when it comes to freezing leftovers. And using baskets or boxes can help you make the most of the space inside your fridge. (It makes cleaning the inside a lot easier too.)

Where should I put my fridge freezer?

Try not to position your fridge freezer next to anything that gets hot. Cookers, tumble dryers, dishwashers and radiators are obvious examples.

If you have the space, it’s a good idea to keep your refrigeration appliances in a cooler area like a utility room or garage.

A few more tips

Think about size – the bigger the appliance, the bigger the energy costs.

Keep door seals clean – this will help prevent faults with your fridge freezer and stop energy escaping.

Check the label – now that all fridge freezers have energy labels, it’s a good idea to check these if you’re looking for an upgrade and want a more energy-efficient appliance.

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