Community
23 October, 2024
Fridge seals are critical
MAINTAINING fridge seals can save householders a lot on power bills.
Seal-A-Fridge managing director Anya Haywood said refrigeration costs accounted for a staggering 8-10 per cent of the average household electricity bill, yet many overlooked a small but powerful solution: proper refrigeration organisation and maintenance.
“One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to save energy is by ensuring that fridge and freezer seals are intact and functioning properly,” she said.
“Our sole focus since 1988 has been replacing seals. The majority of our work was in homes, but for the last 15 years, commercial work has dominated as consumers have favoured ‘disposable consumption’
“However, this trend is slowly reversing as people become more sustainably focused, driven by decreasing disposable income and realise they can extend their appliance’s life by many years, saving money and the environment.”
Natalie White, founder of Get Sorted Co. and a professional organiser in Perth, WA, has seen first-hand how organised and well-maintained refrigerators can lead to significant energy savings.
“A recent client, a busy working mom, was frustrated with rummaging through her disorganised freezer and fed up with the food waste from items forgotten at the back of drawers,” she said.
“So I organised her freezer by category – meat/fish, pre-cooked meals, sweets, bakery items, smoothie ingredients, etc – and labelled the drawers so all family members know where things go. This reduces food wastage and eliminates time and stress from dinner prep.”
Top tips for fridge organisation include:
Using clear containers. You can see inside without opening them, reducing the amount of time the fridge door is open and saving energy
Invest in containers with drainage and adjustable vents to keep fruit and vegetables fresher for longer
Dividers in drawers. Keep categories separated for easy access and less waste.
Lazy susan on the top shelf. Prevent jars from getting lost and forgotten at the back.
