Imagine if your fridge could turn your washing machine on, beam in your favourite TV show and save you money on electricity bills? Well, turns out it could – if you buy the right one.

It all began with the release of the ‘internet fridge’ a couple of years back – and while that particular innovation was in danger of being dubbed ‘pure gimmick’, some of the other features that accompanied it, and have come along since, are seriously worth thinking about. Why? Because they can do everything from lower your power bill to make a busy life more manageable.

The first thing to be wowed by is the fact that many new fridges have the ability to ‘speak’ to other appliances in the house via a network. Sure, it requires buying appliances that are compatible with each other, but if you do that, then a variety of things are possible – all of which make managing a busy lifestyle easier.

Basically, your fridge can become a control station for a number of other appliances in the house, so you could turn the air conditioning on upstairs by pushing a button on the fridge console, or flick the washing machine on in the laundry without leaving the kitchen. And of course, courtesy of that internet connection, you can also surf the net, watch television and even turn your fridge into an instant calendar-cum-family-schedule-manager.

Many top-of-the-line fridges now come complete with technology that can prevent nasty bacteria from infecting foods – not only will your produce stay fresher for longer in the fridge, but it goes some way towards protecting your family from food poisoning. The technology is called different things depending on the brand of fridge you buy, so keep your eye out. But also be sure to investigate what each system is capable of delivering, as they’re not all created equal.

Who doesn’t want to save money on electricity bills? When you consider that your refrigerator is one appliance that runs 24/7, it makes sense to choose wisely. Many fridges now feature technology, innovations and even different ‘economical’ settings that make use of high-tech internal sensors to regulate temperature and are specifically designed to reduce running costs.

Contact a fridge expert in your area and discover how a smart fridge can upgrade your modern home: