Whether it’s your man cave or your car storage (or both), the garage can be the source of lots of lost energy. And it’s not just when you leave the door open on hot summer days.

Refrigerators/Freezers

That old fridge you moved out to the garage might be costing you more than it’s saving you. Refrigerators and freezers are among the top energy users of all the appliances in your home. If your refrigerator was made before 1987, it costs you around $190 per year to run it! Upgrading to an energy-efficient fridge with the ENERGY STAR label could cut your refrigerator energy usage by up to 70% and save you close to $133 every year.*

Put it in the Right Place

The location of your refrigerator and freezer can make a big difference in the running time and energy usage. Placing your refrigerator and freezer out of direct sunlight in an air-conditioned area (instead of in the garage) and keeping it away from an outside door will reduce the amount of time the unit has to run to keep food cold.

Stuff Your Mama Told You

• Keep the doors closed whenever possible.
• Remove and return as much food at one time as possible.
• Leave space for air circulation between items.
• Let hot foods cool before placing them in the refrigerator or freezer.
• Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator instead of on the counter; this helps cool the refrigerator.
• Keeping your freezer two-thirds to three-fourths full helps it operate more efficiently. You can use frozen bottles of water to help fill the empty space (don't fill the bottles to the top, though)

Set The Right Temperature

• Set the refrigerator temperature between 38° F and 42° F and the freezer temperature at 0° F, or follow the manufacturer's guide for the most energy-efficient settings.
• Check the rubber gasket that creates the seal around the door. If it doesn’t seal completely, that means cold air is escaping and the motor is working harder.

Keep it Clean

Don’t allow frost to exceed a quarter-inch in a refrigerator with manual defrost.

Clean the condenser coils in the back of the refrigerator at least twice a year. To do this, follow these four simple steps:

1. Pull the refrigerator away from the wall and unplug it.
2. Remove the cover panel to reveal the coils. On most models you can simply flip up the panel; refer to your owner's manual for detailed instructions.
3. Use your narrowest vacuum-cleaner nozzle to clean the condenser coils. A refrigerator coil brush is great for removing dust and debris.
4. Replace the cover, move the refrigerator back into place and plug it in.

*Source: ENERGY STAR

Lighting

It might surprise you, but garages are one place where compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs aren’t always the best choice. This is because they have a shorter life cycle when turned on and off frequently.

See the Light

• CFLs do use less electricity, but the overall cost of replacing them more frequently may make them a less cost-effective alternative here.
• Use traditional bulbs instead — choose the lowest-watt bulbs that allow you to see safely in your garage.