Keeping your refrigerator full, but not to the point of overstuffing, will allow it to run at max capacity. To help retain cold temperatures when the fridge and freezer are less full, place glass or ceramic pitchers of water in their compartments. Like using ice in a picnic cooler, this will insulate the interior and keep it cold. Refrigerators and freezers account for about a sixth of all electricity use in a typical American home, and they use more electricity than any other single household appliance.

OTHER REFRIDGERATOR TIPS

Use Glass for Storage - store your food in glass, which keeps it colder longer which means the fridge keeps its cool easier.

Vacuum the Coils - a couple times a year, clean off the dust on the coils at the bottom of your fridge (usually hidden behind a removable panel near the fridge's base), since buildup makes the coils work a lot harder. You'll use up to 6% less energy. (Just unplug it so you don't fry yourself.)

Move It - if your fridge is near a sunny window or your oven (and you can actually change the way your kitchen is set up), move it to a cooler spot; for every degree above 70 degrees surrounding your fridge, it'll use 2.5% more energy.

ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES

Along with the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created ENERGY STAR appliances to help consumers identify energy efficient products. These products are clearly marked with a blue and white ENERGY STAR label, and range anywhere from DVD players to refrigerators. In 2006, Americans saved $14 billion on their utility bills and avoided green house gas emissions equivalent to those from $25 million cars by using ENERGY STAR appliances.

THE FACTS

Food retains cold better than air does, so a full refrigerator works less to keep cool than one that is practically empty.