Keep your fridge organised
Avoid overpacking – air needs to circulate to keep everything evenly cool. Knowing what’s inside means less time with the door open, which helps maintain temperature and efficiency.
Defrost food in the fridge
Let frozen items thaw in the fridge – it cools the space naturally and reduces the load on the compressor.
Cool hot food before refrigerating
Putting hot food straight into the fridge raises the internal temperature – let it cool on the bench first, within food safety limits.
Keep your freezer full – but not packed
A well-stocked freezer runs more efficiently than an empty one – but overpacking blocks airflow and forces the compressor to work harder.
Shift your fridge and freezer away from the wall
Pulling them out just 5–10 cm improves ventilation which helps the compressor work less and last longer, especially in summer.
Turn off the second fridge or freezer
If you’ve got a bar fridge or old freezer that’s only used occasionally, switch it off when it’s not needed – older units are often energy guzzlers.
Use your curtains strategically
Close them during the hottest part of the day in summer – open them in winter when the sun’s shining and close them again at night to retain warmth.
Boil only what you need
Filling the kettle for one cup of tea wastes energy – measure out what you need, and you’ll save power without even noticing.
Use lids when cooking
Lids trap heat and reduce cooking time – that means less energy used and a cleaner stovetop.
Match your pot size to the burner
Using a small pot on a large burner wastes heat – matching the pot to the burner improves efficiency and speeds up cooking.
Don’t preheat the oven unless necessary
Most meals don’t need a fully preheated oven – roasting veg or heating frozen food? Put it in while the oven warms up.
Batch your oven use
If you’re already using the oven, cook multiple things at once – roast veggies while your lasagna is in, or bake tomorrow’s muffins with tonight’s dinner.
Run your dishwasher smarter
Skip the pre-rinse – modern machines can handle dirty dishes. Use eco mode to save water and energy and run it at night if you’re on off-peak rates.
Use your washing machine’s spin cycle properly
Run an extra spin at the end of your wash – it removes more water, shortens drying time and reduces reliance on the dryer.
Tumble drying
Use the residual heat from the tumble dryer by putting in a second load straight after the first – it will cut a little drying time which will soon add up. You can also throw in a dry towel which will absorb some of the excess moisture and shorten drying time.
Keep your rangehood filters clean
A clogged filter makes the fan work harder – soak it in hot, soapy water regularly to keep it running efficiently.
