_http://www.celsias.com/article/epa-and-consumer-reports-duke-it-out-over-ener gy-s/_ (http://www.celsias.com/article/epa-and-consumer-reports-duke-it-out-over-energy-s/) Trouble with the 'Energy Star' Label. Posted by Leslie Berliant, Celsias, September 15, 2008. "The October 2008 issue of Consumer Reports is all about energy efficiency as a way to save money. Articles include product reviews and ways to cut energy use at home. There is also an article about [DOE's] and [EPA's] Energy Star rating, 'Energy Star Has Lost Some Luster'. Consumer Reports' research found that there were a number of Energy Star-rated appliances that used more energy than claimed... Consumer Reports sees 3 main flaws with the [Energy Star] program: 1) qualifying standards are lax; 2) tests are out of date; and 3) companies test their own products... The EPA responded... saying the Consumer Reports article 'misses the basic purpose of the Energy Star program... EPA initially seeks to have about 25% of available models meet the ENERGY STAR criteria when they are first established for a product category. Increasing the market share of qualifying products from their initial levels is a goal of the program -- not a fundamental flaw'... [Energy Star is] a needed program, one worthy of expanding, but only if those appliances actually do help consumers save energy and money, not if the ratings are inaccurate or based on non-typical use... Yes, we should have more Energy Star refrigerators, but we should not call something energy saving that actually isn't simply to have more on the market." Article Below The October 2008 issue of Consumer Reports is all about energy efficiency as a way to save money. Articles include product reviews and ways to cut energy use at home. There is also an article about the U.S. Department of Energy's and Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star rating, "Energy Star Has Lost Some Luster ". Consumer Reports' research found that there were a number of Energy Star rated appliances that used more energy than claimed. One LG refrigerator claimed to use 547 killowatt-hours of annual energy consumption but used more than double that, 1,110 kWh per year, when the ice maker was turned on. According to Consumer Reports, the difference is due to the testing procedures; ice makers were turned off during Energy Star testing. Consumer Reports sees 3 main flaws with the program: Qualifying standards are lax Tests are out of date Companies test their own products The Energy Star program has been around for 16 years. In order to qualify for the rating, appliances and consumer electronics are supposed to use 10% -25% less energy than the DOE's maximum allowed amount for that category. Energy Star claims to have saved consumers $16 billion in energy costs and 40 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA responded with a letter on their Energy Star site, saying the Consumer Reports article "misses the basic purpose of the Energy Star program. Energy Star helps consumers not just find energy-efficient products, but ones that will cost-effectively help them save money while protecting our environment." The letter goes on to say: EPA initially seeks to have about 25 percent of available models meet the ENERGY STAR criteria when they are first established for a product category. Increasing the market share of qualifying products from their initial levels is a goal of the program - not a fundamental flaw or an indication that the requirements are lax, as the article suggests. How they reach that goal is important, though. It's a needed program, one worthy of expanding, but only if those appliances actually do help consumers save energy and money, not if the ratings are inaccurate or based on non-typical use of the appliance. Yes, we should have more Energy Star refrigerators, but we should not call something energy saving that actually isn't simply to have more on the market. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy is siding with Consumer Reports. In a September 3rd release, they "strongly urged DOE to remove these models from the list of Energy Star models..." They also called for DOE to fine those manufacturers that are not accurately reporting their energy use, citing a similar case in Australia involving air conditioners which resulted in a $3 million Australian fine. Consumer Reports and the non-profit that publishes them, Consumers Union, sent a letter (pdf) to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson standing behind the assertions of the original article and reiterating their 4 recommendations to improve the Energy Star program: Bring testing procedures in line with the technology available in consumer products. Require some independent verification of test results. Consider a graded qualifying system that uses letters. Better policing by federal officials and enforcement of standards, including increasing spot checks of ENERGY STAR-qualified products.
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