Buyers Guide for Freezers
- Ask for an ENERGY STAR model.
When buying a freezer from a retailer, request an ENERGY STAR qualified model to be sure its energy efficient.
- Check the yellow EnergyGuide label.
Use the label to determine the models energy use, compare the energy use of similar models, and estimate annual operating costs. Learn How to Use the EnergyGuide Label
.
- Purchase an appropriately sized freezer.
Generally, the larger the freezer, the greater the energy consumption. Also, consider whether an upright or chest freezer better meets your needs. An upright freezer has a front-mounted door like a refrigerator and shelves that allow for easy organization. While a chest freezer typically requires more floor space, its usually more energy efficient, since the door opens from the top and allows less cold air to escape.
- Consider a manual defrost model.
Manual defrost freezers use half the energy of automatic defrost models, but must be defrosted periodically to achieve the energy savings. Dont allow frost to build up more than one-quarter of an inch.