Accredited-Lab Testing Will Be Required for Energy Star By Year-End

The EPA and the Department of Energy Wednesday formalized changes to qualification rules for the Energy Star program to ensure that “only products meeting the program requirements can receive an Energy Star label.” The EPA had informed stakeholders in a March 31 memo of the proposed changes (CED April 2 p6). It said it decided to “accelerate” efforts to strengthen qualification and verification rules following a GAO investigation that found the program vulnerable to fraud and abuse (CED March 29 p3).

Effective Wednesday, manufacturers wanting to qualify their products must “submit complete lab reports and results for review and approval by EPA prior to labeling,” the agency said. “Following a thorough review of the Energy Star qualification approval process, EPA has strengthened its approval systems and is no longer relying on an automated process,” it said. The agency will review and approve “individually” all new applications for qualification, it said. The agency will start accepting new applications by the “end of the week,” it said.

Companies seeking to be program partners will not be not allowed to “access” the Energy Star certification mark until the agency has approved a “specific Energy Star-qualified product submitted by the company,” it said. To further strengthen the program, the EPA and DOE will by the end of 2010 require that all manufacturers submit test results from an approved, accredited lab for any product seeking the Energy Star label, they said. Testing in an accredited lab is now required for some products including windows, doors and compact fluorescent lights. CE makers were allowed to self-certify and have opposed testing in accredited labs citing cost and time-to-market issues. “The new process will extend the requirement to each of the more than 60 eligible product categories under the Energy Star program, they said. The new requirements are in addition to the enforcement and testing procedures already in place, the agencies said.

"The safeguards we are putting into effect are essential for the millions of consumers who rely on Energy Star products to help save energy, money and the environment,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA assistant administrator. The steps taken to strengthen the program will “ensure that Energy Star continues to be the hallmark for energy efficiency in the years to come,” said Cathy Zoi, DOE assistant secretary for energy efficiency.