Following a scathing report by the GAO on ENERGY STAR earlier this month here, the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy have announced changes to the ENERGY STAR product certification process to ensure that only products meeting the ENERGY STAR requirements can receive an ENERGY STAR label.
Effective immediately, manufacturers wishing to qualify their products as ENERGY STAR must submit complete reports from an accredited lab and results for review and approval by EPA prior to labeling. 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 approval process. All new qualification applications will be reviewed and approved individually by EPA.
Additionally, companies applying to be ENERGY STAR partners will not be able to access the ENERGY STAR certification mark until EPA has approved a specific ENERGY STAR-qualified product submitted by the company.
LightNOW’s take: GOOD! This is already the process with LED and compact fluorescent products covered by the program. As long as ENERGY STAR revisits and updates criteria to ensure only the highest-performing products are covered, the program will continue to be relevant and provide confidence to consumers. One thing is still unclear, though: What about the products that already slipped past and don’t deserve the label?
