Reducing domestic food waste by lowering home refrigerator temperatures

Domestic refrigerators often operate at temperatures which are higher than ideal for chilled food storage, with several studies finding averages around 7 C. Reducing temperatures for example to 4 C could significantly extend storage lives, giving greater opportunity for use before disposal. However, the savings in costs and emissions associated with reduced waste must be balanced against those associated with increased energy consumption at lower temperatures. Based on published storage lives of foods which are currently refrigerated and UK waste statistics, reducing from 7 C to 4 C could save £162.9 m of waste annually, with associated emissions of 270,000 tonnes CO2e. Including certain foods which are not always refrigerated and removing others which do not benefit from refrigeration, the estimated savings increased to £283.8 m and 578,383 tonnes CO2e. Based on experimental assessment, the costs and emissions associated with increased fridge energy consumption were considerably lower at £80.9 m and 367,411 tonnes CO2e. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.