Chest Freezers – Energy-Efficient Models In New Zealand

Chest freezers were the first type of home freezer unit generally available on the market. One of the reasons was that heat or freezing was not lost when the door was opened. Cold air sinks so if the lid is raised, the cold, freezing air stays within the chest. Door as opposed to lid freezers, are susceptible to losing their freezing air when the doors are opened.

Chest freezers are not as popular as they used to be because they need more space, they don’t fit under a counter, and they cannot be stacked like a fridge-freezer. It is also more difficult to see what food is stored in the freezer without lifting food from the top row of racks.

However, chest freezers still have their place and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) has assessed 59 different chest freezers available in New Zealand. They looked at energy efficiency and annual running costs. Below we can see how some of the top and worst models performed.

Most Energy Efficient Chest Freezers

Elcold chest freezer

ELCOLD 31XLE
Annual running cost$ 64
Annual energy consumption kWh 255
Configuration Freezer – chest
Total freezer volume L 301
Total fridge volume L 0
Total volume L 301

MIDEA 351515
Annual running cost$ 106
Annual energy consumption kWh 424
Configuration Freezer – chest
Total freezer volume L 510
Total fridge volume L 0
Total volume L 510

PARMCO CHF-295
Annual running cost$ 78
Annual energy consumption kWh 310
Configuration Freezer – chest
Total freezer volume L 295
Total fridge volume L 0
Total volume L 295

Elcold is not a common brand in New Zealand. It is a low-energy refrigeration company based in Denmark.

Elcold and Midea have the top six most energy-efficient chest freezers in the EECA tests.

Least Efficient Chest Freezers

BRABANTIA BM1
Annual running cost$ 92
Annual energy consumption kWh 366
Configuration Freezer – chest
Total freezer volume L 200
Total fridge volume L 0
Total volume L 200

PARMCO CHF-198
Annual running cost$ 90
Annual energy consumption kWh 358
Configuration Freezer – chest
Total freezer volume L 198
Total fridge volume L 0
Total volume L 198

NOUVEAU NCF198
Annual running cost$ 90
Annual energy consumption kWh 358
Configuration Freezer – chest
Total freezer volume L 198
Total fridge volume L 0
Total volume L 198

These tests show that you cannot simply go by the brand since Parmco has one of the best and also one of the worst performers. You need to look at each model on its own merits.

Lowest Annual Running Cost Chest Freezers

ELCOLD 11XLE
Annual running cost$ 44
Annual energy consumption kWh 177
Configuration Freezer – chest
Total freezer volume L 130
Total fridge volume L 0
Total volume L 130

Haier chest freezer

HAIER HCF101
Annual running cost$ 46
Annual energy consumption kWh 185
Configuration Freezer – chest
Total freezer volume L 101
Total fridge volume L 0
Total volume L 101

MIDEA 351143
Annual running cost$ 56
Annual energy consumption kWh 224
Configuration Freezer – chest
Total freezer volume L 142
Total fridge volume L 0
Total volume L 142

Elcold again takes the top spot. This brand holds the top for both measures of energy-efficient chest freezers.

If you have an old chest freezer that might need a service or any repairs. you can search for your nearest Upper Hutt appliance repairs service by using the search function on this website. https://nzappliancerepairs.co.nz.