Will Energy Star Get An Overhaul?

by Nikki Gloudeman · 2010-04-08 12:00:00 UTC
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A couple weeks ago, Energy Star came under fire when GAO investigators revealed they were able to win efficiency approval on 15 bogus products — including a gas-powered alarm clock.

Now, Maine Senator Susan Collins, who requested the government audit in the first place, has proposed a complete agency overhaul. In a strongly worded press release, she stated, "I will push for increased oversight and aggressive internal controls to verify product claims on energy efficiency. I want to make sure we pursue changes that are more than window-dressing."

The main component of the planned revamp is more third-party product verification. Energy Star, run by the Department of Energy and EPA, has historically not required independent reviews on every product it stamps with approval. After the GAO informed the agency of their incriminating findings, officials announced they would expand testing through independent labs for 200 of the most commonly tested products, including freezers and air conditioners. But the agency has yet to make a full-scale commitment to this important step in the review process.

Why does any of this matter? Because as Collins noted, the standards have a direct impact on taxpayer pocketbooks. Consumers fork out more money for products with the label, believing it will come back in energy savings. Yet it's obvious a fair share of the 40,000 products approved by the agency are not actually more energy-efficient. Furthermore, the government devotes a large amount of taxpayer money to rebate programs; last year, the American Energy and Investment program alone allotted $300 million to incentives for customers to purchase the approved items.

All of which makes a successful overhaul pivotal. To quote Collins, with any luck tighter standards will "allow the government, manufacturers, and consumers to once again have confidence in the Energy Star label."

Nikki Gloudeman is a senior fellow at Mother Jones magazine where she writes about the environment and other topics.
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