Energy efficiency tips for refrigerators and air conditioning

Consumers can reduce electricity bills and environmental impact by selecting energy-efficient home appliances. Refrigerators are significant contributors to domestic energy use, often accounting for approximately 30% of the total energy consumption of household appliances because they operate continuously.

When purchasing a refrigerator, efficiency ratings are a key indicator. The current scale has been simplified, removing subcategories like A+, A++, and A+++, leaving a clearer comparison where Class A represents the highest efficiency and Class G represents the highest consumption. Factors such as compressor technology and thermal insulation quality are critical in determining energy needs.

For air conditioning, selecting the correct cooling capacity, measured in frigorias, is essential to avoid underperformance or unnecessary energy costs. A general guideline for standard insulation is 100 frigorias per square meter. For example, a 20-square-meter room requires approximately 2,000 frigorias, while a 30-square-meter room requires 3,000. Factors such as poor insulation, ceiling height, and solar exposure can increase the required capacity.