Is EnergyStar Outdated? Consumer Reports Thinks So

A selling feature on almost every appliance, tech gadget, and electrical household device is its energy efficiency--something generally marked by the EnergyStar logo we've all become accustomed to. But is EnergyStar as efficient as consumers are led to think? 

Consumer Reports recently released a report on EnergyStar's slow evolution over the past decade. Their finding: while EnergyStar has modernized, it has not been nimble enough in keeping with the times.

The Consumer Federation of America (CFA), the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and many states say federal officials must do a better job creating and enforcing tougher standards to prevent appliances and electronic devices from getting the Energy Star when they shouldn't.

What's the Problem?

In a nutshell, there is a discrepancy between how appliances are tested and how they are marketed to the consumer--some companies can hide behind their test results. For instance, there are large differences between the actual energy use for operating three LG and two Samsung EnergyStar French-door refrigerator models and the use claimed on their EnergyGuide labels.

Critics also suggest that EnergyStar has set the bar for energy-efficiency requirements so low that just about any product can get a star. Mark Connelly, deputy technical director for Consumer Reports, explains how almost half of all dishwashers currently on the market qualify for the EnergyStar label.

In Connelly's words: “Certainly, when that many products qualify for an EnergyStar, the value of the Star decreases."

But the real cause for concern is the lack of independent testing for EnergyStar products. Companies are relied on to regulate themselves — essentially allowing the fox to police the henhouse. 

“Manufacturers basically self-certify, and there’s nobody out there policing what the government’s being told,” says Connelly. “There needs to be some kind of auditing in place because otherwise you’re either relying on the manufacturers to snitch on each other or someone like Consumer Reports to just happen upon a problem.”

Who Gets The Blame?

It doesn't make sense to heap all the blame on EnergyStar's shoulders, and in fact, for the most part the company does more positive than bad. At the very least it encourages consumers to consider energy efficiency when making a purchase.

The fault of the test procedures would seem to lie with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) because it’s the agency responsible for determining the federal testing standards for appliances. Already under criticism this year for failing its own energy audit, the DOE would be remiss in not moving forward to improve subpar policies in other areas. 

Read Jessica A. Knoblauch's Article and Consumer Reports Release for the whole story.