Choose an efficient fridge or freezer to cut costs

Buying the best fridge and freezer

Choosing the right fridge and freezer matters — it should last you over 10 years and will always be running. It’s also the third-largest use of home energy, after heating and hot water.

Investing in an energy-efficient model will keep your food cold while also saving you money over time.

Compare fridges & freezers

How much can you save?

Using a 278L fridge and 138L freezer with 7 stars on the Energy Rating Label,
compared to one with 1 star.

$105
per year
$1,155
over 11 years
70 %
CO₂ emissions

Assumes the fridge and freezer is always on and an electricity price of 0.25 $/kWh. Source: EECA, 2024

What’s a good energy rating for a fridge or freezer?

The stars on Energy Rating Labels tell you how energy efficient appliances are.

Appliance	Aim for a star rating of at least...
Freezer	4 stars
Refrigerator	5 stars
Fridge/freezer (bottom freezer)	5 stars
Fridge/freezer (side by side)	4 stars
Fridge/freezer (top freezer)	4.5 stars

Assumptions: The annual energy consumption number displayed on the Energy Rating Label assumes that fridges and freezers are on 24 hours a day, with the temperature settings recommended by the manufacturer.

Understanding the labels 

Energy Rating Labels help you compare the efficiency and running costs of similar appliances.   
   
The star rating of an Energy Rating Label won’t tell you how much an appliance will cost to run — just that it will be cheaper than similar sized models with fewer stars. 

The trick is to look at this along with the annual energy consumption on the label, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The lower this number, the less it will cost you to run — regardless of machine size.

Fridge and freezer labels

Why consider efficiency  

Immediate running cost savings — Your monthly energy bills will drop if you make the switch to a more energy-efficient fridge and freezer.
Long-term cost savings — The long-term cost savings over the life of the fridge and freezer often balances out the in-store savings of buying a cheaper, less efficient model. 
Better electricity grid stability — A more efficient fridge and freezer requires less power to operate. This helps lower electricity demand and places less strain on the electricity system at peak times. 
Lower emissions — Switching to a more energy-efficient fridge and freezer cuts your electricity-related emissions and helps New Zealand reduce its reliance on fossil fuels to support long-term environmental benefits.

Choosing the best configuration

There are a few ways fridges and freezers are configured. In general, combined fridge/freezers are more energy-efficient than separate appliances, although efficiency levels vary across all product types.

Choosing the right setup for your household’s size and needs will help you decide which is best for you.

Side-by-side fridge/freezer models split the unit down the middle, with the freezer typically on the left and the fridge on the right. They are narrower but deeper than other models, which can make items at the back harder to reach and laying large items flat tricky. Some have through-the-door ice and water dispensers, which uses more electricity and may require a plumber to hook up.
Top or bottom fridge/freezer models split the unit horizontally, with the freezer either above or below the fridge. A top fridge is convenient since you access it more often, but having the freezer below may make veggies in the crisper drawer too cold. With a top freezer, the unit generally performs better, though it may mean a warmer crisper drawer.
Standalone fridges or freezers are good for storing or freezing food if you buy in bulk or need more capacity beyond a combined model.

Fridges — Buying guide | Consumer NZ (external link)

Freezers — Buying guide | Consumer NZ(external link)

Find the right fridge and freezer

The best fridge and freezer on the market will look different for individual households.  

Key things to consider are:

Is it the right size for your family’s needs?
Do you have enough space in your kitchen to allow for an air gap (about 5cm) around the appliance?
Which configuration (side-by-side, top/bottom freezer, or standalone) is best for your needs?

The efficient appliance calculator can help you easily compare fridges and freezers in New Zealand.

Efficient appliance calculator

Common questions

Electricity in New Zealand is largely generated by renewable sources like hydro or wind — around 80–85% in an average year. However, the remaining 15–20% is still powered using fossil fuels like coal, diesel, and natural gas.

Better, more efficient appliances are becoming more available in New Zealand. These better-rated products use less electricity to get those jobs done — costing you less in energy bills.  

On a national scale, they also help to smooth out electricity peaks that make us more likely to tap into fossil fuels to meet electricity demand. By buying a more efficient version of an appliance, you can save money and help reduce New Zealand’s overall emissions too.
You can use some simple tricks to get the most out of your fridge and freezer — and save on your energy bills: 
- Cool food before you put it in the fridge. Warm food takes more energy to cool. (Just don’t leave it on the bench so long it becomes a health risk.)
- Get what you need, shut the door. Try not to leave the door open longer than you need, or open the door too frequently.
- Set the right temperature. Fridges should be 2–4°C and freezers between -15°C and -18°C. You can buy a fridge thermometer to check it.
- Check the seal. Close your fridge or freezer on a piece of paper. If it can’t hold the paper firmly, check for wear — it might need replacing.
- Easy maintenance. Clean the seal regularly with warm, soapy water. If your appliance doesn’t auto-defrost, remove ice when it starts to build up. If it has coils at the back, wipe or vacuum off dust every year.
Fridges and freezers become inefficient over time, using more electricity and costing you more in running costs. Consider a replacement when your appliance:
- is more than 16 years old (or 20 for a freezer)
- runs continuously to maintain the right temperature
- no longer reaches the right temperature — that's 2–4°C for a fridge, and between -15°C and -18°C for a freezer.
They contain recyclable metals and extremely potent greenhouse gases, so search out a local recycling station that will extract useful components and recover the gas.
In New Zealand, fridges and freezers are one of many energy-using products that are regulated through labelling and energy efficiency performance requirements.  

These regulations mean everyone has access to better products on the market — helping to save on energy bills. 

In the year ended March 2025, regulation of appliances in New Zealand has saved businesses and consumers 1.48 PJ of energy. That’s equivalent to the yearly energy use of 35,000 homes and adds up to $36 million in national benefit. (Source: EECA, 2025)
Keeping an old fridge or freezer for extra space and storage will most likely cost you money as older models are a lot less energy efficient. If you want to keep your old fridge or freezer, turn it on only when needed.

If you buy in bulk or consistently store or freeze extra food, consider a backup fridge or freezer that has a high energy-efficiency rating. It will work better and save you money over time.