If you’re looking to buy a new fridge freezer, its energy performance is all-important. 

The more efficient your appliance, the cheaper it will be to run. At a time of spiralling energy costs, anything you can do to reduce your household bills is to be welcomed.

When you’re browsing for a new fridge freezer, you’ll see that every model has an energy efficiency rating.  

But what does that mean, and what is the best energy rating for a fridge freezer?

How do energy ratings work?  

All appliances sold in the UK are given a rating based on how much energy they use. These are known as ‘energy labels’ and they run on a scale of A to G, with A being the most efficient and G the least. 

Those appliances will be tested to discover how much energy they consume during typical use. This is a simplified version of the previous system that had a scale that ran from A+++ to G, reflecting the increasing numbers of appliances that are now meeting the highest standards. 

Fridge freezers, like other appliances, are tested to assess their energy consumption during typical use.

It’s also important to bear in mind that the size of your fridge freezer is also a factor. In practice, this means that two fridge freezers of different sizes but with the same energy rating might use varying amounts of electricity.

With that in mind, when you’re comparing potential fridge freezers of the right size for your needs, always compare their energy ratings. A larger fridge with the same or lower energy rating as a smaller fridge might not be more energy efficient. 

As a general rule, the smaller the fridge and the better its energy rating, the less energy it will use. 

Likewise, if you’re looking for a larger fridge, the energy rating can make a considerable difference. There will be a significant contrast in energy usage between a large A-rated fridge freezer and a G-rated equivalent. 

Saving money with an energy-efficient fridge freezer

In most homes, fridge freezers are switched on all the time. This means that 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, yours will be using energy. 

They’re also some of the longest-lasting appliances in the home, and most people will live with their choice of fridge freezer for many years. 

Perhaps more so than any other appliance, it really is important to opt for an energy efficient fridge freezer. The differences can be sizeable, as explained above. With an average size fridge, when opting for an A-rated appliance over an F-rated one, it will typically save you about £800 over the average lifetime of the product. 

In carbon terms, that’s 670kg CO2e. So selecting a more energy-efficient fridge is not only better for your finances, but it’s also better for the planet.

As well as looking at the energy label of an appliance, it’s also useful to look for the yearly energy consumption.

This is illustrated in kWh/per annum and it will be displayed beneath the rating scale on the energy label. 

What is the best energy rating for a fridge freezer?

Taking everything above into account, it should now be clear that the best energy rating for a fridge freezer is A. 

However, it’s important to bear in mind the size of the fridge freezer. A smaller fridge freezer with a B or C rating is likely to use less energy over time than a larger fridge freezer with an A rating.

Therefore, when you’re looking at the energy label of your freezer make sure you take a look at the yearly energy consumption figure as well.

The good news is that appliance manufacturers are taking seriously their responsibilities when it comes to energy efficiency and carbon reduction, and there are now more appliances on the market with the highest rating. 

It’s never been easier to find a highly energy efficient fridge freezer that meets your size and style requirements. 

How can you reduce the energy consumption of your fridge freezer?

Whatever the energy rating of your fridge freezer, there are a number of steps you can take to help reduce its energy consumption and maximise its efficiency.   

First, make sure there’s sufficient space between foods that are stored in the fridge. This allows the cool air to circulate freely and evenly and will decrease your overall energy usage.   

If you’re storing less food than usual, adjusting the temperature so it’s a couple of degrees higher will reduce your energy usage. When you’re going away, or during the winter when the air temperature is cooler, activating the eco mode will save energy.   

If possible, you should also ensure that there is some space around your fridge freezer to allow for ventilation and never set your fridge temperature lower than is necessary. 

Home Feeling makes it easy to find your perfect energy-efficient fridge freezer

If you’re looking for a new fridge freezer, then making sure it’s as energy efficient as possible is crucial. 

Home Feeling makes the process simple, with all of our range featuring energy efficiency details so you can compare. Our expert team is also on hand to answer any questions you may have.

We carefully select our quality products directly from the factory and pass the savings on to you, the customer. It’s easy to order and delivery is free across the UK using our trusted and reliable couriers.

Get in touch with Home Feeling today or create an account and let us take the stress out of selecting your new appliance.