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Reduce electricity consumption: Get to know your refrigerator

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates your refrigerator takes up 14 percent of your household energy usage. While it’s our best friend in keeping food fresh, if you’re not using it efficiently, it can be a major energy hog.

Here are some quick tips about your fridge to help you stay eco-friendly:

• Allow leftovers to sit at room temperature for a while before putting them in the fridge. Hot leftovers raise the temperature inside your fridge, so it has to work harder and burn more energy.
• Check the rubber seal on your fridge occasionally to make sure it’s keeping cold air in and warm air out. To check, slip a dollar bill into the door; if it slips out easily, you need to fix or replace the seal.
• Keep your freezer as full as possible. You can fill an empty space with reusable ice packs so it will stay cooler.
• Check how old your fridge is. If it’s more than 10 years old, consider replacing it with an Energy Star-qualified one.