We may often think about our environmental impact when grocery shopping, but not so much when we get home and put those groceries into the fridge. However, refrigerators consume more energy than any other household appliance: use this quick and easy Energy Star calculator to determine the annual cost and energy usage of your fridge. For example, the average fridge in Massachusetts uses around 600 kWh of energy per year, which costs about $110 per fridge. Refrigerators offer great opportunities to reduce energy usage! Here are 5 simple steps you can take to make your current fridge more energy efficient:

• Use filtered water pitchers and trays of ice: Automatic ice makers and through-the-door ice and water dispensers increase energy usage by 14-20% and raise the price of a new fridge by $75-250.

• Vacuum the coils (located behind and underneath the fridge): These coils are at the heart of the refrigerant system and attract dust – the more dust, the less the efficient the fan is. Dirty coils have been associated with an 35% increase in refrigerator energy consumption! Use a vacuum brush attachment to clean around the coils twice a year.

• Clean often: A dirty fridge is a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive, which speeds up food spoilage. Rather than introduce toxic chemicals into your food zone, try simple DIY green cleaners – all you need is some mild liquid dish soap, baking soda, and/or vinegar!

• Glass over plastic: Opt for glass containers over plastic ones, since glass keeps food colder, helping the fridge work more efficiently.

• Organize strategically: Certain areas of the fridge are naturally colder than others. Avoid food spoilage by storing the most vulnerable foods in the coldest areas (often the back and bottom) and the less vulnerable ones in warmer spots (the door). If you’re unsure where the coldest part of your fridge is, test different spots with a fridge thermometer.

If your fridge is nearing the end of its life span, you may be asking yourself, is it time to buy a new fridge? At a certain point, the greenest option is to ditch the fridge entirely for a newer model. Refrigerators generally last 10 to 17 years, after which they may become an emissions liability. According to Energy Star, a fridge purchased in 2008 and used for 10 years uses about twice the energy per year as one purchased today! This shows that despite the environmental cost of producing a new fridge, replacing an old, inefficient model with a new, eco-friendly option is still an environmentally desirable option! Even better, look to recycle your old fridge through retailers or your local utility.