Plugged in day and night to keep our food fresh, the refrigerator weighs on the bill. According to EDF Particulier, a fridge consumes on average 332.30 kWh/year, because it operates 24 hours a day. Bad adjustment, door that remains open or frost quickly ends up costing households dearly.
Good news, to reduce the electricity consumption of the fridge, you just need to act on the settings, daily actions and maintenance. EDF Particulier and UFC-Que Choisir remind us that a fridge set at around 4–5°C and a freezer at -18°C keep food properly. They indicate that each degree less adds 5% to the energy consumed and that 3 mm of frost can lead to almost +30% in excess consumption.
Adjust the refrigerator correctly to consume less electricity
To control consumption, adjusting the thermostat remains the basis. UFC-Que Choisir recommends a temperature of 4–5°C in the central zone of the refrigerator and -18°C in the freezer. These values protect food while limiting electricity. A simple thermometer placed on a shelf for a few hours allows you to check if your fridge is within this range.
On many models, the thermostat displays numbers and not degrees, which is confusing. EDF advises starting in the middle of the scale, waiting 24 hours then adjusting if necessary. It is better to use the colder fresh compartment and vegetable drawer for sensitive foods rather than lowering the entire fridge. Key reflex: let the dishes cool before storing them.
Everyday gestures: better use of the door and fridge space
Each door opening brings in a volume of hot air that the refrigerator must cool. EDF recommends avoiding going back and forth: it is better to know what you are going to take and close it quickly. Organizing food by zones helps, especially with children. The manufacturer Bosch also recommends defrosting frozen foods in the fridge, which provides free cold to other products.
Another key point, the filling. EDF Particulier recommends a fridge three-quarters full: enough food to stabilize the temperature, but still room for air to circulate. Large cardboard packaging takes up space for nothing, it is better to remove them. Bosch also points out that an overloaded appliance consumes more because the cold no longer circulates correctly between the shelves.
Fridge maintenance and purchase: choices that impact consumption
For maintenance, UFC-Que Choisir reminds that beyond 3 mm of frost, consumption can increase to +30%. Defrosting, cleaning the joints and dusting the rear grille at least once a year prevents these energy losses.
EDF Particulier also advises leaving approximately 10 cm behind the device and keeping it away from heat sources. When purchasing, the organization points out that an American fridge consumes almost twice as much as a traditional model and recommends choosing an energy class adapted to the volume of the household: 100 to 150 liters for a person, 350 to 500 liters for a family.