Appliances are a major source of energy use in the home A.cording to the U.S. Department of Energy, the refrigerator is responsible for about five percent of total energy usage in home. By using your refrigerator and freezer appliances wisely, you can decrease the amount of energy your home uses. And, the best part is, once you educate yourself on the proper way to treat and use these appliances, saving energy this way becomes a natural habit.