Cooking may account for 4.5% of all of a household’s total energy, but the biggest energy suck related to food preparation and storage is the refrigerator. There are plenty of things that you can do to reduce this energy drain though. Of course, if you’re in the market for a new refrigerator, you can reduce energy waste by purchasing an ENERGY STAR™ rated appliance. But even with your existing refrigerator you can make basic changes to be more eco-friendly. Set your refrigerator to a moderate coolness. You certainly want it to be cold enough to preserve food, but you don’t need to have it on the highest setting. Be responsible about closing the door when you’re not actively using the refrigerator. Don’t leave it hanging open while you fuss around. In general, be cognizant of settings and usage.

 

 

Photo Credit: Terry Chay via Flickr