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Freezers
Freezers can consume a lot of energy, especially when a few simple tips are not followed.
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Energy-Saving Tips
What are my options?
How to buy?
Energy-Saving Tips
Chest freezers
Upright freezers
Manual defrost freezers and refrigerators
Partial automatic defrost refrigerators
Single door refrigerators
Compact refrigerators and freezers
Upright freezers
Manual defrost freezers and refrigerators
Partial automatic defrost refrigerators
Single door refrigerators
Compact refrigerators and freezers
Freezers have been getting more energy-efficient in the past few years. Those manufactured today use 37% less electricity than those manufactured 10 years ago, and 68% less than those manufactured 20 years ago. Top-loading chest freezers are 10-25% more efficient than front loading freezers, as cold air doesn’t spill out when the door is opened. They’re also quieter, as their cooling coils are built into their walls.
Given their horizontal rather than vertical layout, however, top-loading freezers can be harder to organize and their efficiency can be canceled out by the cold air escaping as you keep the door open while searching through the layers of food.
Manual defrost freezers use less electricity than automatic defrosters, but only if defrosted regularly. The frost should never be allowed to cover more than one quarter inch of the coils. The manual model also doesn’t dehydrate frozen food, which automatic defrosters do.
Look for the ENERGY STAR label to find the most efficient freezers. To look at ENERGY STAR products, which also qualify for government rebates click here.
Given their horizontal rather than vertical layout, however, top-loading freezers can be harder to organize and their efficiency can be canceled out by the cold air escaping as you keep the door open while searching through the layers of food.
Manual defrost freezers use less electricity than automatic defrosters, but only if defrosted regularly. The frost should never be allowed to cover more than one quarter inch of the coils. The manual model also doesn’t dehydrate frozen food, which automatic defrosters do.
Look for the ENERGY STAR label to find the most efficient freezers. To look at ENERGY STAR products, which also qualify for government rebates click here.
Many energy tips that apply to refrigerators also apply to freezers. Freezers should be placed away from heat-emitting appliances and out of the way of direct sunlight. They should also be kept at a temperature setting of 0-5º Fahrenheit for efficiency.
Some freezer efficiency tips involve a change in habit. For example, as cold air escapes when the freezer is open, think about what you’ll take out before you open the door, instead of keeping it open as you decide. Put certain kinds of food in the same place every time you get them, so you know where they are. You can also label items in the freezer to identify them more quickly. The freezer has to do less work when you leave food out to cool before you freeze it—but be careful to do this for no longer than 30 minutes.
Some freezer efficiency tips involve a change in habit. For example, as cold air escapes when the freezer is open, think about what you’ll take out before you open the door, instead of keeping it open as you decide. Put certain kinds of food in the same place every time you get them, so you know where they are. You can also label items in the freezer to identify them more quickly. The freezer has to do less work when you leave food out to cool before you freeze it—but be careful to do this for no longer than 30 minutes.