Wren | Actions

Impact

Small impact

Cost

Saves money

Time

Immediate

Are you looking for a way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your monthly bills? One of the quickest tips is by adjusting the temperature settings on your refrigerator and freezer.

Perishable food is safe from bacteria up to 40 °F(4 °C) in the refrigerator compartment and 0 °F (-18 °C) in the freezer compartment. However, many refrigerators and freezers are programmed by default at lower temperatures—as low as 34 °F and -5 °F respectively—than what is needed to keep your food safe.

By raising the fresh food compartment temperature to 40 °F (4 °C) and freezer compartment to 0 °F (-18 °C), you can save hundreds on your energy bills without compromising food safety.

That said, few refrigerator controls show accurate, actual temperatures, so be sure to double check your existing fridge temperature with a free standing thermometer. If you don't have a thermometer, keep your controls between 36° and 38°F (or 2.2 to 3.3°C) for your fridge and -5 and 0 °F (or -18 to -15 °C) for your freezer to be extra safe.

And don't worry if you don’t have a top of the line, super energy efficient refrigerator to begin with! These temperature adjustments can be made to any refrigerator, lowering energy waste and utility bills. So the next time you're in the kitchen today, take a moment to check and adjust the temperature settings on your refrigerator and freezer.