Top 5 tips: Save energy with your fridge

Saving energy with your fridge is not only good for the environment, but also for your wallet. By paying attention to the placement, maintenance and use of your fridge, you can quickly save a lot on your energy bill. Even with less efficient fridges. You can see how energy-efficient your fridge is on the energy label.

• Tip 1: give your fridge space
• Tip 2: defrost the freezer compartment
• Tip 3: turn the fridge off when you're not using it
• Tip 4: don't place hot food in the fridge
• Tip 5: close the door properly

A fridge needs to be able to exhaust its heat. If the appliance can't get rid of the heat, it'll have to cool harder. You can save energy by leaving enough room between the back of the fridge and the wall it stands against. Keep a space of at least 10 centimeters to ensure good air circulation. Make sure to regularly dust off the back, or the vents in case of a built-in fridge, with a vacuum cleaner or a soft brush.

You should defrost the freezer compartment of a fridge without anti-ice buildup 5 to 6 times a year. The ice buildup in the appliance doesn't only take space, but every 2 millimeters of buildup increases the energy consumption by about 10%. Don't feel like defrosting? A fridge with anti-ice buildup offers a solution. You only have to defrost a fridge with Low Frost once a year. You never have to defrost a fridge with No Frost.

Turn off your fridge or use the holiday mode if you're going on holiday for a longer period. This way, you can switch off the thermostat of the fridge compartment while keeping the thermostat of the freezer compartment switched on. You should empty and clean the device first, of course. This way, you won't have any unpleasant surprises after your holiday. After the fridge compartment is empty and clean, you should leave the door open a crack to prevent bad smells and mold.

Let food cool down first before you put it in the fridge. If you place warm food in your fridge, it'll have to work harder to keep cool. This works in reverse, too; you can save energy by having your frozen food defrost in the fridge. This'll take longer than defrosting it outside of the fridge, but the low temperature of the frozen products will support the fridge in cooling.

Think of what you want to take from the fridge before you open the door. This way, the door won't be open unnecessarily. Make sure to close the door properly, so cold air can't escape and warm air can't get in. If you occasionally clean the rubber door seals with hot water, they won't get dirty and they'll stay flexible. This will ensure the door keeps closing well.