Greening Austin Daily

Energy Star Approval Now Actually Means Something

16th April, 2010 - Posted by carsi - No Comments

Katherine noted earlier this week that the Energy Star stamp of approval wasn’t always given to the most energy efficient appliances. The old system had a giant loophole that allowed manufacturers to self-certify without receiving any independent confirmation from the government. Now, the EPA and Department of Energy have announced they’ve closed the loophole by requiring companies to submit reports and results about their products to the EPA. They’ve also announced that manufacturers will be required to use accredited labs for product testing.  Although the DOE has tested some products off-the-shelf in the past and found most to meet Energy Star requirements, it’s definitely reassuring to consumers that the Energy Star brand now has some guarantees of energy efficiency.