from M. in Cudahy, WI:
#894
We have a 14 cu. ft. chest freezer more than 20 years old. I am sure it uses excess energy. Would we save a lot by replacing it with a new freezer?
It's always good to replace old appliances!
Yes, new refrigerators and freezers are dramatically more efficient than old models – even when the old models operate perfectly. In addition, since refrigerant wears out and seals start to leak, refrigerator and freezer performance tends to degrade over time. While the exact energy use depends on your particular model number, on average freezers purchased before 1993 cost an extra $35 each year to use compared to a new ENERGY STAR qualified model. If you bought it in the 1980s, it's costing you an extra $70 each year.
If you know the model number of your refrigerator or freezer, you may want to use the ENERGY STAR Refrigerator Retirement Savings Calculator to get a better idea of the relative operating cost of your current model in comparison to a new ENERGY STAR qualified model. While this tool may not include every model ever made, it does include data for a very large number of refrigerators and freezers.
Published Monday, September 13, 2010