Energy Star dimmed

October 20, 11:13 AMConsumer News ExaminerBroderick Perkins

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That Energy Star logo on your major appliances doesn't always mean you are saving as much energy as the labeling might indicate.

But that's due to change and you could get restitution for appliances that don't measure up.

It's taken a year for the federal government to address questionable energy efficiency labeling on household appliances.

But this month, the feds have promised to step up enforcement efforts to make sure consumers really do get the energy savings promised from appliances emblazoned with the Energy Star logo.
Earlier this week the New York Times reported an internal Department of Energy (DOE) audit that said the feds were not keeping tabs on appliance manufacturers to make sure when that they slapped on the Energy Star the product met mandated energy efficiency specifications.

A year ago Consumer Reports reported legal loopholes, lax enforcement and out dated testing procedures were allowing Energy Star labeled appliances to go to market with energy efficiency ratings higher than they actually were.

Since then the independent rater of consumer goods and services has kept tabs on Energy Star products and the program.

The 17 year old voluntary Energy Star program administered by DOE and Environmental Protection Agency covers more than 60 product categories from household appliances and computers to water coolers and vending machines.

Qualifying Energy Star appliances and consumer electronics should use less energy than the DOE's maximum allowed amount for that category.

Last week, flowing the internal audit, the DOE announced three new steps to address the Energy Star fallout.

• The formation of an enforcement team within the Office of the General Counsel.

• Increased enforcement of existing standards as well as five new appliance energy standards mandated by the Obama Administration to improve energy efficiency standards for appliances.

• DOE will randomly review Energy Star certification records and hold manufacturers accountable for failing to certify covered products or for violating certification rules.