diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0143c61..5895d6c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -39,5 +39,6 @@ Your metrics will be available at <http://localhost:9902/metrics>
 
 All configuration is done with environment variables.
 
+- `SMARTCTL_REFRESH_INTERVAL`: (Optional) The refresh interval of the metrics. A larger value reduces CPU usage. The default is `60` seconds.
 - `SMARTCTL_EXPORTER_PORT`: (Optional) The address the exporter should listen on. The default is `9902`.
 - `SMARTCTL_EXPORTER_ADDRESS`: (Optional) The address the exporter should listen on. The default is to listen on all addresses.
diff --git a/smartprom.py b/smartprom.py
index 706616b..89cb56e 100755
--- a/smartprom.py
+++ b/smartprom.py
@@ -157,19 +157,14 @@ def main():
     """
     exporter_address = os.environ.get("SMARTCTL_EXPORTER_ADDRESS", "0.0.0.0")
     exporter_port = int(os.environ.get("SMARTCTL_EXPORTER_PORT", 9902))
+    refresh_interval = int(os.environ.get("SMARTCTL_REFRESH_INTERVAL", 60))
 
     start_http_server(exporter_port, exporter_address)
     print(f"Server listening in http://{exporter_address}:{exporter_port}/metrics")
 
-    collect()
-
-    start_time = time.time()
     while True:
-        elapsed_time = time.time() - start_time
-        if elapsed_time > 20.0:
-            start_time = time.time()
-            collect()
-        time.sleep(0.1)
+        collect()
+        time.sleep(refresh_interval)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':