When researching energy efficient appliances, we often turn to the recommendations of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The ACEEE continues to publish helpful information about all sorts of appliances, including freezers. The ninth edition of their Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, published in fall 2007, contains helpful information about selecting a freezer.

The most efficient type of freezer is the chest freezer. This is because a chest freezer opens from the top, and cold air (which is heavier than warm air) does escape easily from a chest freezer. The weight of the lid also helps to seal chest freezers tightly. Chest freezers are 10% to 25% more efficient than upright freezers. (more…)

The e-cube, invented by British engineers, significantly reduces the energy used by fridges and freezers, which are estimated to consume about a fifth of all domestic electricity in the UK. The one-size-fits-all, retrofit, wax device, barely three inches wide, fits around the temperature sensor, to more accurately reflect the temperature of the contents. It said to cut power usage by 30%.

More information: The Guardian

Via: Free Energy News

In terms of quality, cost and energy efficiency, Kenmore refrigerators get high ratings from Good Housekeeping and Consumer Reports. They make many “no-frills” refrigerators which are Energy Star compliant. Kenmore fridges have factory-installed ice makers, which are less prone to break down than those built into the door. For example, a reasonably priced, mid-sized Kenmore fridge is available from Sears for about $430.

Top-freezer and bottom-freezer refrigerators are more energy efficient than “side-by-side” models, and they are less expensive. See this report from the Green Guide, for a list of the best Energy Star compliant refrigerators.

If you are looking for a very energy efficient fridge, try models from Avanti and Sunfrost. These fridges are best if you are looking for extreme energy savings, or if you are off-grid and using solar power for example.

An off-grid experimenter in Australia, Tom Chalko, has retrofitted a chest freezer to create a fridge that uses only 100 watt-hours (0.1 kWh) per day! Why a chest freezer? Tom points out that vertical door refrigerators are inherently inefficient. As soon as you open a vertical fridge door the cold air escapes, simply because it is heavier than the warmer air in the room. When you open a chest freezer, the cool air stays inside, just because it’s heavy. Any leak or wear in a vertical door seal causes significant loss of efficiency.

(more…)

Sunfrost refrigerators are the most efficient ones out there.

Here are the specs on a typical model:

Energy Consumption : 585-845 Whr / day (42-58 Amp Hours)
DC, 20 kWh / month, 249 kWh / year
Annual Energy Cost: $21
Capacity: 16 cu. ft.
Dimensions: 62.5″ H, 34.5″ W, 27.75″ D
Weight: 300 lb. (44 cu ft. volume)
Available from: Alternative Energy Store

Power Consumption: 277 kWh per year
Annual Energy Cost: $23
Capacity: 11.2 cu ft
Dimensions: 23.5" W, 66.75" H, 25" D
Weight: 130 lb.
Power: 120 V AC
Best Price: $320 (ikitchenbath.com)
also a counter-high version available at Amazon for
$139.88

Power Consumption: 480 watt hours/day or 240 watt hours /day
with insulation (70°F day)
Capacity: 7 cu. ft.
Dimensions: 18.5" W, 41" H, 28" D
Shipping weight: 138 lb.
Power: 12 or 24V DC
Best Price: $1196 (E-Marine)