Household Habits & Maintenance
Money and Energy Saving Tips
Save Up To $100 A Year By Monitoring Your Refrigerator Use

Problem:

The average refrigerator door is opened 25 times a day. But one study found a family's refrigerator being opened 100 times daily. Why ? A child was taking grapes - individually from the refrigerator. Extra door opening can add 15 percent - $15 - to your yearly refrigerator bill. A refrigerator costs $75 - $100 a year to run. But you can either double, or cut that cost in half depending on your habits.

Remedy:

Do not stand with the refrigerator door open for 2 minutes, thinking, as the unit cools the room. Check the door seal (gasket) by opening the door, putting a dollar bill between the seal and the frame, and closing the door. If it is hard to pull out the bill, the seal is tight enough. if it is easy, the seal is too loose. Re-glue it or buy a replacement at an appliance parts store.

Disconnect the old , rarely-used second refrigerator in the basement or garage and save up to $100 per year.

Try to keep the refrigerator away from hest sources such as a stove, direct sunlight or ducts. The heat will make the unit work harder to cool foods inside.

Cool hot foods at room temperature before refrigerating. Clean the condenser coils at the back or bottom of the unit at least twice a year.

Do not set thermostats too low. For a refrigerator, 30-40 degrees is fine.

Set power-miser switch on "dry" ;energy-saver to "on" . It will turn off heaters that evaporate moisture from the side of the refrigerator. They are not needed except on very humid days in houses without air conditioning. (Savings: $10-$16 per year)

Cost:

Cost for all measures is ($0-$10 or more depending on the area, or if you have to replace the gasket).

Annual Savings:

$25-$100 or more per year, depending on how wasteful you are.

               2005 The British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation.