I've heard this before, but one thing I have always wondered is why the jugs you fill empty space with should be full. The article concedes that chilling the t

I've heard this before, but one thing I have always wondered is why the jugs you fill empty space with should be full. The article concedes that chilling the thermal mass of water is initially more energy-intensive, but that you benefit by displacing air that can easily spill out whenever you open the door (being replaced by air that then needs to be cooled). You would get this same benefit and none of the drawback from an empty jug.