Refrigerators account for about 13 percent of a typical home’s energy use, which makes them one of the biggest single appliances to optimize.
Set the fridge to 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer to zero, since colder than that wastes energy.
Keep the coils clean and the door seals tight, because dust and a leaky seal force the compressor to work harder.
Do not overload or underload, since a full fridge holds cold better, but blocked airflow makes the motor run constantly.
A few minutes of maintenance a year keeps this workhorse running efficiently for a decade.