In a Consumer Reports October 2008 article, it was reported that ENERGY STAR programs, managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) have “lost some luster.” Energy consumption claims for some products were found to be inaccurate during recent Consumer Reports’ lab tests. Furthermore, some products’ EnergyGuide label considerably understated the energy consumption of what consumers are likely to experience with normal usage. The article also asserts that a disproportionate number of products are being sold with the ENERGY STAR label rating because the testing procedures are out-of-date and the standards are too lax. In other words, the ENERGY STAR label should be indicative of those products which are the cream-of-the-crop, but the lax standards allow even the run-of-the-mill products to qualify. To view the complete article, click here.
Interestingly, neither the article nor the letter addressed the EPA's Residential Ventilating Fan Program specifically which is regrettable since this program is one of the few that the U.S. EPA could point to as a success story. The program requires products to be HVI-Certified in order to qualify for the ENERGY STAR rating and utilizes HVI’s comprehensive verification and challenge programs to actively and regularly “police” the industry.
