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Energy Consumption of Major Household Appliances Shipped in Canada, Summary Report –
Trends for 1990–2009

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Chapter 2: Freezers

Full-sized chest freezers (Type 10)9 were again the most popular type in 2009. However, their market share declined from 65 percent in 1990 to 35 percent. Compact chest freezers (Type 18) were becoming increasingly popular, accounting for over 30 percent of the market share.

2.1 Average annual unit energy consumption by model year

The freezer data presented here should be treated with caution because they may be less representative of the Canadian market than the data for other appliances. Note that freezer data for 1990 are not provided because they are based on a particularly small number of shipments. Also note that supplementary data received from freezer manufacturers in 2009 will provide a more complete analysis of this appliance over the coming years.

A freezer shipped in 2009 consumed (on average) 356 kilowatt hours per year (kWh/yr), whereas one shipped in 1991 consumed 445 kWh/yr, representing a 20 percent improvement in average annual unit energy consumption (UEC) during that period.

2.2 Distribution of shipments by type

The type of freezer has implications for energy consumption. Figure 3 shows how the average annual UEC for each type of freezer changed from 1991 to 2009. Upright freezers with automatic defrost (Type 9) consumed the greatest amount of energy (and accounted for a growing segment of the freezer market). However, the average annual UEC of Type 9 freezers improved the most during this period (see Table A.23 in Appendix A). Meanwhile, compact chest freezers (Type 18) consumed the smallest amount of energy. See Table A.18 for a breakdown of market share of the various freezer types.

2.3 Distribution of shipments by unit energy consumption per volume

Figure 4 shows the distribution of freezers by average annual UEC per cubic foot from 1991 to 2009. The data show that, beginning in 2002, new freezers relied on a smaller amount of energy per volume for their cooling purposes. This improvement coincides with the 2001 amendment to the minimum energy performance standards (MEPS). Figure 4 also demonstrates that in 2009, based on supplementary freezer data obtained, the shift was towards more compact freezers (those consuming 50 kWh/yr and over). This is most likely a more accurate picture of the current freezer market.

Figure 3 Average annual UEC of freezers by type, 1991–2009

Figure 3 Average annual UEC of freezers by type, 1991–2009.

Figure 4 Distribution of freezers by average annual UEC per cubic foot, 1991–2009

Figure 4 Distribution of freezers by average annual UEC per cubic foot, 1991–2009.

For a regional breakdown of freezer shipments by type, average annual UEC per cu. ft. and channel, please refer to Tables A.19, A.20 and A.21 in Appendix A.

9 The definitions of the various types of freezers can be found in Appendix B.

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