Chest freezers are more efficient than upright models because they typically have more insulation and cold air does not sink out of them when they are opened. Some utilities offer rebates or other incentives for the purchase of ENERGY STAR-qualified products.
Chest freezers tend to be slightly more affordable than upright freezers and may be less expensive to run. They also are more likely to keep your frozen foods frozen during a power outage because they hold a more consistent temperature. Overall, a chest freezer is a more economical option.
I suggest that for most folks, a conventional chest freezer is the best balance of cost and efficiency (as opposed to an expensive DC model or an upright freezer).
As reported by the U.S. Department of Energy, top freezers use about 10 to 25 percent less energy than bottom freezers, which helps reduce your energy bill, electricity consumption, and carbon footprint.
A freezer will run more efficiently when full. This is because it doesn't have to work as hard to cool down the internal temperature. It is therefore cheaper to run a freezer that is full.
Chest freezers are more efficient than upright models because they typically have more insulation and cold air does not sink out of them when they are opened. Some utilities offer rebates or other incentives for the purchase of ENERGY STAR-qualified products.
An ENERGY STAR certified chest freezer uses about 215 kWh of electricity and costs about $30 per year to run, while an ENERGY STAR certified upright freezer uses about 395 kWh of electricity and costs about $60 per year to run.
Higher Cost
One of the biggest drawbacks of a bottom freezer fridge is these models tend to cost more than freezer-on-top models. If you choose a bottom-mounted freezer refrigerator with French doors, you can expect an even greater cost.
The key difference is that blast freezer fast-freezes the product within a short period of time, while blast chiller chills the product to a desired storage temperature within a reasonably period of time.
To store frozen foods at best quality, keep the freezer set to maintain zero (0 °F or -17.8 °C). Some combination refrigerator-freezers cannot keep the freezer air that cold. As long as foods are solidly frozen, they will stay safe.
Disadvantages of an Upright Freezer
They have less storage space overall because of the way their shelves are arranged. Upright freezers use more electricity than deep freezers. They lose more chilly air every time you open them, so they can be more expensive to operate.
Chest freezers are often made out of plastic material and not stainless steel. Stainless steel conducts heat and is a less effective insulator. This is why chest freezers will often consume less than half of the energy of an upright freezer even if neither is being opened.
“Hot gas defrost” is an efficient way to melt ice in the unit's evaporator coils. This method allows for a shorter defrost time, about 3-5 minutes, and uses less energy than a standard electric automatic defrost.
With a bottom freezer refrigerator, some of the drawbacks include: Difficult access to frozen items. You will need to bend over to access all your frozen items, and due to the setup and drawers these freezers have, it can be difficult to see items in your freezer because you will often need to stack them.
Do not install the freezer near an oven, radiator, or other heat source, nor in a location where the temperature will fall below 40°F or exceed 110°F. Allow at least 3" (7.5 cm) of air space at the top and on both sides of the freezer and 2" (2.5 cm) between the back of the freezer and the wall.
Like other refrigerator styles, bottom freezer refrigerators offer different features that may be a priority for your home. Some features to consider for your fridge include: Ice Making: If ice is a priority for your kitchen, make sure the model you select has an ice maker.
If you're just looking for economical frozen food storage while keeping energy costs at bay, a manual defrost chest model is more economical to buy and operate.
Heating and cooling: 45-50%
The largest electricity consumer in the average household is your heating and cooling appliance. By a long shot. Central air conditioners and heaters use tons of energy in order to keep your home set to the right temperature.