Are fridge freezers more energy saving than separate appliances?

happytails

We have a separate fridge and freezer but have been offered a combined one - just wondering if they are better energy wise? Not sure on the ratings though.

Sarah

Magentasue

If they're fairly new and you know the models, you could compare here:

http://www.sust-it.net/energy_saving.php?electricity=14&id=49

reactor_3

I would imagine for the same capacity the combined one would be better
all things being equal. Basically you have one less surface to loose coldness from.

Or perhaps more mathematically, the capactity is proportional to the volume
cubed where as the heat loss is proportional to the surface area squared.
and it can be shown that X cubed/ x squared is less then two times x/2 cubed/ x/2 squared or something like that :rotfl:


Anyway put it another way, two small snowballs will melt quicker seperately
then combined into one big ball

Bit easier to understand it that way, that would be the theory anyway.

You can see from the link provided that the bigger fridges have a lower cost per cubic foot.

Premier_2

Most modern fridge freezers work off a single compressor so I would imagine they are more energy efficient than separates.

reactor_3

It also uses one less plug hole :rotfl:
Which considering how many extension cables I have (4) can't be a bad thing.


But in general everything benefits from the economies of scale.