Smaller Energy Star qualified chest freezers - why so hard to find? (worth, purchase)

[Pink Jazz]

We recently purchased a 7 cubic foot GE chest freezer at Sam's Club, and what seems odd is that there are VERY FEW Energy Star qualified chest freezers under 12 cubic feet on the market, most of which are commercial grade units. And despite those larger models being Energy Star qualified, they still use more energy than the non-Energy Star 7 cubic foot unit we bought.

So, why are there so few Energy Star qualified chest freezers under 12 cubic feet, and why are they so hard to find?

[SATX56]

I wouldn't be concerned with Energy Star ratings. At this point in time the manufacturers are simply under-sizing fan motors to save energy. Compressors may even be somewhat undersized with newer Freons being used. Dependability and real world efficiency may get the short end of the deal. In other words not worth the minuscule energy savings at this point in time. Many smaller chest type freezers are static cooled and don't use a fan. This eliminates the easy corner cutter by manufacturers seeking the Energy Star gimmick rating.

[boomtownfunlover]

Perhaps the manufacturers, at this point in time, have discovered that consumers prefer the upright models.

[SATX56]

I think what most prefer is Frost-free, chest or upright. Frost=free are more complex and give more possible ways to save energy. They are however, necessarily bigger energy users. Chest are cheaper to produce I assume as they need no latch mechanism. They usually have only a basket and not several shelves as an upright would. I would prefer an upright, for sure, even Frost-Free for my next freezer. I may not be willing to cough up the extra bucks for the luxury though.