Before replacing a refrigeration appliance, check whether its compartments still suit the food you store, then compare the annual energy consumption of models with a similar capacity and the same purpose. A fridge-freezer is a good fit if you regularly need space for both fresh and frozen food. A fridge alone may suit you if you rarely freeze food, while a separate freezer needs to offer enough useful storage to justify running an additional appliance around the clock. Age or energy rating alone isn’t enough to decide whether to replace an appliance.
If your electricity bill is prompting you to make a change, first compare your current appliance’s energy consumption with that of models suited to the same needs. ADEME points out that refrigeration appliances run continuously, so replacing one simply because it’s old doesn’t tell you how much energy you’ll save.
A freezer that’s often nearly empty, or a second appliance that’s rarely used, is a good reason to review how many litres you actually need. ADEME notes that a larger size and excess capacity can increase energy consumption. A smaller appliance should still have enough room for your food without being overfilled.
If you freeze meals or fresh food, work out how much freezer space you need, rather than simply making room for food that’s already frozen. The French Ministry of Agriculture explains that an ice box doesn’t do the same job as a freezer.
Start by choosing the features and capacity you’ll actually use. Then compare the annual energy consumption of appliances that meet those needs.
Consider this if: you mainly store fresh food and rarely freeze anything.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to give up freezing food or have a separate freezer.
Consider this if: you regularly use both the fridge and freezer compartments in one appliance.
Bear in mind: both compartments need to suit your storage needs, not just the advertised total capacity.
Consider this if: you regularly store frozen food or freeze large quantities of fresh food.
Bear in mind: this appliance will run continuously as well as your fridge.
Consider this if: an appliance is often mostly empty, or a second freezer is rarely used.
Bear in mind: having less spare capacity means planning your shopping accordingly and avoiding cramming food in.
| What matters | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Annual energy consumption | Compare kWh/year for appliances with the same purpose and a similar usable capacity. If available, check your current appliance’s energy consumption too. | If I’m replacing my appliance to reduce my electricity use, I want to know whether the new model meets the same needs but has a different stated energy consumption. Around 42% of consumers put this comparison first. |
| Capacity and features | Check the available fridge and freezer capacity separately, along with how useful the features are to you. | If a second appliance is usually underfilled, I’d consider getting less capacity rather than more features. Choosing the right size comes before other considerations for around 25% of consumers. |
| Freezing needs | Check the freezer capacity and, if you freeze fresh food, make sure it has a 4-star compartment. | I regularly prepare or store frozen food and need a suitable space, not just an ice box. This is the main consideration for around 17% of consumers. |
| Food storage | Choose an interior layout that avoids overfilling and lets you check the temperature at the coldest point. | There’s no point getting a smaller fridge if I can’t store my food without cramming it in. For around 16% of consumers, how food is stored comes first. |
The energy label displayed by the European Commission also shows annual energy consumption in kWh/year and compartment capacities. The letter alone won’t tell you whether you’re buying more capacity than you need.
First decide on the type of appliance and the usable capacity you need. Then compare the kWh/year, noise level and dimensions of models that meet the same needs.
According to ADEME, a larger size and excess capacity can increase the energy consumption of appliances that run continuously.
Check how full the appliance really is over several weeks before deciding whether to keep, replace or get rid of an additional appliance.
The French Ministry of Agriculture distinguishes between storing food that’s already frozen and freezing fresh food. An ice box can’t replace a freezer for the latter.
If you want to freeze fresh food, check the compartment’s star rating and available capacity.
A smaller appliance still needs to give you enough room to store your food properly. Anses advises against overfilling the fridge to help cold air circulate.
Choose a capacity that suits the food you store and check the temperature at the coldest point. Anses recommends keeping it between 0 °C and +4 °C.
Bosch offers fridges, fridge-freezers and freezers in a range of sizes and energy ratings.
Liebherr offers, among other options, built-in fridges with dedicated compartments for fresh food.
Beko offers fridge-freezers with features that vary by model.
This selection includes fridge-freezers with different capacities and a compact, single-door fridge. To choose between them, start with how much space you need for fresh and frozen food, then check the exact model’s energy label and dimensions against your available space.
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Worth considering if you regularly use both fridge and freezer space and have room for a 333 L fridge-freezer.
The product name states that it has No Frost and an A rating. Check the annual energy consumption and dimensions on the energy label and product details for the exact model before comparing it with a replacement.
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Consider this model if you want fridge and freezer space in one 282 L appliance, provided each compartment is large enough for your needs.
The product name states that it has an E rating. If you freeze fresh food, also check the star rating of the freezer compartment.
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This fridge-freezer is suited to households that use both temperature zones and can make good use of its 344 L capacity without buying more storage than they need.
The product name states that it has an E rating. Compare its kWh/year and the capacity of each compartment with models that meet the same needs. Check the star rating if you plan to freeze fresh food.
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Its 440 L total capacity is worth considering if you regularly fill both the fridge and freezer compartments, rather than leaving a large amount of space unused.
The product name states that it has a D rating. Check the capacity of each compartment, annual energy consumption and installation space before choosing this size.
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Worth considering if you want to reduce the space taken up by your refrigeration appliance and 92 L is enough for the food you actually store.
The product name states that it has an E rating. Before choosing this model, check its usable capacity, the features of any freezer compartment, its dimensions and its annual energy consumption on the product details and energy label for the exact model.
First work out how many litres you need in each compartment, then compare appliances with the same purpose and a similar capacity. The energy label displayed by the European Commission shows the energy rating, kWh/year, capacities and noise level. A better rating doesn’t mean you can ignore the annual energy consumption of a model that suits your household.
No. To freeze fresh food or prepared meals, look for a compartment designed for freezing rather than a simple ice box. The French Ministry of Agriculture distinguishes this from the limited storage of food that’s already frozen, and says that a 4-star compartment can be used for freezing.
For the fridge, Anses recommends a temperature of between 0 °C and +4 °C at the coldest point. Check it regularly if necessary. For the freezer, the French Ministry of Agriculture recommends setting the temperature to −18 °C.
Old fridges are covered by the collection system for electrical and electronic equipment. The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition describes the “one-for-one” take-back scheme when you buy an appliance of the same type. Ask the retailer how to return your old appliance when you make your purchase.
No. No Frost alone doesn’t tell you whether one model uses less energy than another. To decide, compare the kWh/year listed for the exact models, choosing capacities that suit your needs.