Energy Consumption of Freezers

Over the past 21 years, the average annual UEC by type of freezer has fluctuated between 213 and 840 kWh/yr, depending on consumer preference for a type of freezer (chest, upright, compact). The average annual UEC of total freezers ^{Footnote 4} ranged from 391 to 295 kWh/yr. ^{Footnote 5}

The type of freezer affects how much energy it consumes.

1. Upright freezers with automatic defrost (Type 9) and upright freezers with manual defrost (Type 8) generally have a high UEC because they lose more cold air than chest freezers. Upright freezers lose more cold air than a chest freezer because the refrigerated air in an upright freezer flows down and out of the freezer when the door is opened. However, following the introduction of, and subsequent amendments to, the MEPS in the Energy Efficiency Regulations, the average annual UEC of upright freezers improved the most from 2000 to 2020 ^{Footnote 6} , both in absolute and relative terms. Upright freezers accounted for a growing segment of the freezer market.
2. Chest freezers (Type 10 and 18) are generally more energy-efficient because only a small amount of cold air flows out when the lid is opened.

The average annual energy consumption per volume of standard-size freezers fluctuated over the years. More large sized freezers (40-49.9 kWh/cu. ft.) were shipped in 2020 compared to the previous year.