Refrigerator is a familiar food storage device in every household. Using the refrigerator correctly not only helps the device operate efficiently and optimally, but also saves energy.
Recently, the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) suggested a small, easy-to-implement tip that can help save electricity for families. That is to place a bowl of water overnight in the refrigerator. Not only does this save electricity, but it is also considered to help keep food inside the refrigerator fresher for longer.
The procedure is as follows: First, the user needs to prepare a large bowl of water, or it can be replaced with a tray or cup, then place it in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator and leave it overnight. The next morning, move the frozen bowl of water to the cooler compartment of the refrigerator. This process should be repeated every day.
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According to experts’ explanation, a refrigerator is rarely opened or completely sealed at night, so placing a bowl of water in the freezer compartment will shorten the cooling time and reduce energy consumption compared to during the day.
Next, moving the frozen bowl of water to the cooler compartment will cause the ice to gradually melt. The melting process will provide cool air to cool down the temperature quickly without using much energy. In addition, the water vapor generated at this time will provide additional moisture for the food, helping fruits and vegetables from drying out quickly and maintaining freshness and nutrients for longer.
Ways to save electricity for refrigerators
According to the latest statistics from EVN, refrigerators, being constantly operated throughout the day, are one of the top 3 most energy-consuming devices in the house. However, there are still methods or small tips that users can implement daily to save energy for their devices. Here are some suggestions from the BrightSide website.
1. Choose a refrigerator with a suitable capacity for the family’s needs
When choosing a refrigerator, besides researching the brand, features, and warranty, users should also consider the capacity criteria of the refrigerator. Depending on the number of family members and usage needs, users can choose a refrigerator with a suitable capacity, which helps save costs when buying a refrigerator as well as save electricity every month. If a refrigerator with a larger capacity than needed is chosen, it inadvertently wastes energy. On the other hand, if it is too small, it is not enough for cooling, storing food, and serving family needs.
Families can refer to the suggested refrigerator capacity suitable for the number of members as follows:
– 1-2 people: Refrigerator capacity below 150 liters
– 2-3 people: Refrigerator capacity from 150 – 300 liters
– 3-4 people: Refrigerator capacity from 300 – 400 liters
– 4-5 people: Refrigerator capacity from 400 – 500 liters
– More than 5 people: Refrigerator capacity above 550 liters
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2. Store an adequate amount of food in the refrigerator
To ensure the refrigerator works well, users should store the appropriate amount of food based on the refrigerator’s capacity. Stuffing too much food will prevent the cold air from circulating evenly in the refrigerator, and the food preservation is also not effective. Conversely, an overly empty refrigerator allows the food to lose coldness easily, causing the compressor to work continuously and consume electricity.
3. Wrap food tightly when putting it in the refrigerator
Before storing food in the refrigerator, users should wrap it tightly with food wrap or put it in a food storage container. This not only helps limit the formation of bacteria that cause odor in the refrigerator but also protects the nutrients in the food. Moreover, wrapping food tightly helps regulate the cold air inside the refrigerator more effectively, allowing the refrigerator to operate with lower power consumption, thereby saving a significant amount of energy.
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4. Prioritize using glass or ceramic containers to store food in the refrigerator
Glass and ceramic containers have high durability, heat resistance, and are easy to clean. Therefore, families should prioritize using glass or ceramic containers to store food in the refrigerator. These containers will help balance the temperature inside the refrigerator better while limiting bacteria from entering the food.
5. Avoid constantly opening and closing the refrigerator door or leaving the door open for too long
Opening the refrigerator door for too long or frequently opening and closing the refrigerator door will cause the cold air to escape from the refrigerator, making the compressor constantly adjust the temperature to maintain the refrigerator’s temperature. This causes the refrigerator to operate at a high frequency, wasting energy.
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6. Regularly clean the refrigerator
Regularly cleaning the refrigerator helps limit bacteria and mold growth and also helps the refrigerator dissipate heat better. Also, don’t forget to clean the cooling part at the back of the refrigerator to prevent significant dust accumulation from clogging the system.
Users should also call technicians to check the refrigerator’s gas regularly once a year and replenish the gas in a timely manner to prevent the compressor from working overloaded, wasting electricity.
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7. Ensure a reasonable temperature
Setting a reasonable temperature for the refrigerator is also a simple way to save electricity. However, if the temperature is adjusted too high, it will cause the food to spoil because it does not provide enough required coldness. On the contrary, if the temperature is too low, it will waste energy. Therefore, users should set the temperature according to the experts’ recommendations, for example, the refrigerator compartment should be set at a temperature of about 2-4 degrees Celsius, and the freezer compartment should be set at a temperature of about -15 degrees Celsius.
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8. Limit turning the refrigerator on and off frequently
Turning off the refrigerator from the power source or turning on/off the refrigerator frequently will cause the refrigerator to consume a large amount of energy each time it starts up. Therefore, to save electricity and prolong the life of the refrigerator, users need to limit turning the refrigerator on and off frequently.
In case the refrigerator is not used for an extended period, users can disconnect the power and clean up any remaining items and food in the refrigerator. After that, clean it thoroughly and wait for the refrigerator to dry before closing the door to limit the growth of bacteria.
According to Trí Thức Trẻ
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