DOE Prohibits Energy Star Labels on LG Refrigerators

The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that certain LG French-door refrigerator-freezers will be banned from using the Energy Star label, effective January 2, 2010.

This kind of DOE action against manufacturers is very rare, but the decision about LG is the result of months of wrangling between the company and the DOE.

Last year multiple independent labs confirmed that when certain LG French-door refrigerator-freezers are tested using existing DOE test procedures, they do not qualify for the Energy Star Program. Consumer Reports published an article in August 2008 noting that certain LG refrigerators met Energy Star standards only when the ice maker and (often) the freezer were turned off. This is a violation of Energy Star’s test procedures.

In November 2008, the DOE and LG entered into an agreement that was intended to let LG transition away from test procedures that significantly underestimated the amount of energy that these refrigerators would consume during normal use. Because recent testing confirms that problems persist, DOE has exercised its right to give notice and terminate the agreement.

As a result of the DOE’s efforts to protect consumers, LG has now sued the Department of Energy.   DOE General Counsel Scott Blake Harris explained, “We intend to defend the Department’s actions in federal court and to prove that the law of the United States does not give LG any right to continue using the ENERGY STAR® label in a way that could impose unexpected costs upon American families and unjustly disadvantage manufacturers of more energy efficient products.”

Energy Star is a voluntary program, sponsored through the DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that promotes the development and sale of energy-efficient products. The labels associated with the program inform consumers of the most energy-efficient products in a particular product category. Ensuring that the labels are applied only to products that deliver on the promised energy and cost savings protects consumers provides a level playing field in the marketplace--and reduces pollution.

The DOE's announcement is part of a broader effort at the agency to expand enforcement efforts for the Energy Star and appliance standards programs. DOE sees these actions as necessary to protect American consumers and maintain the integrity of the Energy Star brand.

“The ENERGY STAR® label is a critical tool for consumers looking to save energy and money with their appliances,” said Harris. “We have found that these refrigerator-freezer models do not deliver the energy and cost savings promised under the ENERGY STAR® program, so we are taking the necessary steps to protect the American public.”

Image courtesy of LG Electronics