Energy conservation is fundamentally about using less energy to save money and lessen the impact on the environment. This could entail using less gas, electricity or any other energy source that you purchase from your utility company. Since our planet has limited energy supplies, it is advantageous for both individuals and our larger energy systems to actively conserve energy where we can. For most of us though, when we take steps to conserve electricity, it is to stop ourselves from burning a hole in our pockets.
Turning off the light when you leave the room, unplugging appliances when they’re not in use and cutting down on the usage of the air conditioner and the room heater are all common ways of saving electricity so that we do not receive a mammoth bill. While we are talking about it, it is crucial to discuss whether it is okay to keep our refrigerators switched off during the night or for long durations to save electricity.
A refrigerator is one such appliance whose job is to keep your food items and drinks fresh at all times. Switching your fridge for an elongated period can spoil the edibles inside. When the fridge is switched off, it can only keep the interior cool for 2-3 hours. If you are thinking of keeping the refrigerator switched off for 5-6 hours overnight, lack of cooling can spoil the items inside.
Fungi can grow in refrigerators because of the high temperature inside, and consuming fungus-contaminated food can damage our health. Now, if we talk about the economic side of it, even that will do no good to you. As soon as the fridge is switched off, the temperature inside it starts to rise. If you restart the refrigerator after some time, it will take longer for the compressor to cool the refrigerator back to the same temperature and will consume even more electricity to do that. This means you will not benefit economically from keeping the fridge switched off.
Modern refrigerators come equipped with a thermostat and an auto-cut-off feature that causes the compressor to shut off automatically once the temperature has been reached. This will also keep the fridge cool and conserve electricity.
