Energy Star rating burns less brightly after audit

Shocking!
Today the New York Times reported the less-than-rosy findings of an internal audit performed by the Energy Department regarding Energy Star labels on certain home appliances.  Apparently, the labels represent a rating system far less meaningful than green shoppers had hoped.

Many consumers (including myself) heavily factor the presence or absence of the now familiar logo in their decision to purchase a new fridge or air conditioner, so the news that both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Department have admitted to "weak oversight" of the labeling process is deeply troubling. But before you start digging around for receipts, it's important to know that not every Energy Star-labeled product falls under this cloud of suspicion: windows and L.E.D. fluorescent lighting are cleared by independent agencies, such as Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., so good news on that front. However, according to the NYT, the ratings of refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters and room air-conditioners can be certified by the company manufacturing said appliance. *Slaps forehead* It would seem that the Energy Department is just now realizing such self-monitoring in a highly competitive industry is problematic.

The negligence revealed by the audit has prompted both the E.P.A. and the Energy Department to sign a "memorandum of understanding" that will "seek to address some of the shortcomings detailed in the report." Hmm...such vague language seems like what allowed private companies to take advantage of their massive government agency partners in the first place, but I'll continue to hope that a public airing of the Energy Star program's faults will lead to a speedy overhaul.

In the meantime, I encourage those of you in the market for any of the appliance categories in question to consult ConsumerReports.org, which claims that their comparative energy tests are tougher than the Department of Energy's. The site has been following the Energy Star controversy since last year.