NSU Newsroom
SharkBytes
Horizons
This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
Other NSU News Sources
News Releases Archive
Contact
Division of Public Relations and Marketing Communications
Nova Southeastern University
3301 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314-7796
SharkBytes Archives
SharkBytes Categories
- Academics
- Alvin Sherman Library
- Athletics
- Campaign Corner
- Community News
- Featured Center Stories
- News and Upcoming Events
- NSU Achievements
- NSU Alumni Spotlight
- NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale
- NSU Camps
- NSU Health Care Centers
- NSU Research Spotlight
- Nutrition Tips
- Looking Ahead
- Pride Bites
- Recreation and Wellness
- Regional Campuses
- Staying Green
- Student Affairs
- University School
Contact
Division of Public Relations and Marketing Communications
Nova Southeastern University
3301 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314-7796
Run a more efficient refrigerator
Source: Yahoo! Green
The refrigerator is one of the biggest and most power hungry fixtures in your home. It has to keep food cold or frozen, and it’s on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Luckily, there are some ways to lower the impact of this power-hog. Follow these tips to make sure your fridge keeps its cool using less electricity.
The paper test: If your refrigerator is an older model, the seals around the door may be old and sagging. To make sure your fridge isn’t leaking any cold air, try to slide a slip of paper into the seals. If it goes through easily, you’ve got a gap that is making your fridge use a lot more energy than it should. Also, if your refrigerator is 10 years or older, it’s a good idea to upgrade to a more recent and energy efficient model.
Make sure the door shuts easily: Like the above tip, you want to keep your fridge from leaking cold air. If it’s jam-packed with food, it may not be closing properly. Clean it and organize it to make sure the doors close fully and easily.
Don’t keep it in the heat: If you have a choice in the matter, try to place your refrigerator away from other heat sources, like sunlight, ovens, and dishwashers. This will help the refrigerator run more efficiently.
Don’t store hot food: Let your cooked food cool on its own before sticking it in the refrigerator. This way, the fridge doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain its temperature.
Thaw food in it: Frozen foods will keep the fridge cool as they defrost and keep it from using as much energy.
Make up your mind before looking: standing around with the refrigerator door open wastes a bunch of energy. Try to decide what you want before you open the door to minimize browse time. Also, keep your fridge organized so you spend less time searching for food with the door open.
Turn off its heater: This is one many people don’t realize. Most refrigerators are equipped with heaters in their walls to prevent condensation. Unless you get noticeable or problematic condensation, you should turn this feature off. Look for an energy-saver or power-saver switch to do it.