Replacing Your Freezer to Save Energy

Feb 12, 2010 | Energy Efficiency

Snapshot | Savings | How to choose | Environmental benefits | Rebates | Take action!

Snapshot

The older your freezer, the higher your bills. If your freezer was made before 1993, it costs twice as much to power than a new one would.

That's because today's freezers have much better insulation and compressors. Your most efficient freezers are ENERGY STAR-qualified; they use 10% less energy than new non-ENERGY STAR freezers.

Depending on what you pay for electricity, a new freezer can pay for itself in less than two years!

Dispose of your old one through qualified recyclers; your utility might pick it up free of charge, and some, such as PG&E, will pay you for it!

Savings

A freezer made before 1993, when new efficiency standards took effect, uses twice as much electricity as a new freezer. That mean it's costing you as much as $60 to $180 more to power each year compared to a new ENERGY STAR-qualified model (depending on your utility rates; this is based on a range of 14 to 40 cents per kWh). If it's a 1980s model, it's double that. That means your savings in 2 years could cover the cost of the freezer.

To cut your power bill, consider replacing your freezer if it's more than 10 years old, especially if it's not working well. Some utilities offer you free pickup and a cash incentive to dispose of your old energy-intensive models.

Chart: Today's freezers use as little as one-third the electricity of freezers of 30 years ago. (The latest models can use as little as a 60-watt light bulb!)

Chart: WattzOn; data from U.S. Department of Energy

How to choose

1. Site it carefully. Make sure it won't be next to warm appliances, such as your hot water heater, or in a garage that can get hot.

2. Purchase an appropriately sized freezer. The larger the freezer, the greater the energy consumption.

3. Consider a manual-defrost model. They're not as common as automatic-defrost models, but manual-defrost freezers use half the energy of automatic defrost models but must be defrosted occasionally to achieve the energy savings. If frost builds up to more than one-quarter of an inch, defrost it. In addition, manual defrost freezers will not dehydrate foods, causing freezer burn.

4. Consider a chest freezer. While a chest freezer typically requires more floor space, it's usually more energy efficient, since the door opens from the top and allows less cold air to escape. An upright freezer, on the other hand, has a front-mounted door and shelves just like a refrigerator. Cold air moves down toward the floor when the door is opened and is lost.

5. Get an ENERGY STAR-qualified model to be sure it's efficient. Read the yellow ENERGY STAR label and look for models that use 600 kWh or less.

Environmental benefits

Old freezers use banned refrigerants, including Freon, that deplete the planet's ozone layer. They qualify as toxic waste, and should be disposed of carefully by a qualified recycler. Call your power utility or trash-collection service. Some utility companies, such as Pacific Gas & Electric, will pick up your old fridge and even pay you a small fee for it.

Nearly 70 percent of U.S. electricity is generated with coal and natural gas, which release greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. New, efficient freezers use less energy and help reduce our impact on the environment.

Rebates

Freezer rebates for San Francisco Bay area utility customers include:

Utility

Rebate Summary

Getting Started

Alameda Municipal Power

$35 and free pickup of old freezer

Call 1-866-964-7346 for pickup

City of Palo Alto Utilities

$35 and free pickup of old freezer

Contact JACO Environmental for pickup or call 1-800-299-7537

Pacific Gas & Electric

$35 and free pickup of old freezer

Contact JACO Environmental for pickup or call 1-800-299-7537

Silicon Valley Power

$35 and free pickup of old freezer

Contact JACO Environmental for pickup or call 1-800-577-0510

Take action!

Buy an energy-efficient freezer

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