Monday, March 22, 2010
Washington, D.C. — Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, applauded the Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) following the March 19 announcement that the agencies would increase the testing of products carrying the Energy Star label for compliance with the program’s requirements.
Last week, DOE began testing six of the most common product types: freezers, refrigerator-freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers, water heaters and room air conditioners through third-party, independent laboratories. DOE will be expanding the program over the next several months to require all products seeking the Energy Star label to be tested in approved labs and undergo ongoing verification.
Consumers Union, which is known for its independent testing of consumer products, has been a long-time advocate for third-party compliance testing and certification of Energy Star ratings.
“We are pleased the Energy Department and EPA will be requiring independent, third-party testing for products that seek to carry the Energy Star label,” said Shannon Baker-Branstetter, policy analyst for Consumers Union. “Comprehensive testing will help give shoppers more confidence when they’re looking for energy-efficient products. We continue to encourage the agencies to keep updating their testing procedures and raise standards for inclusion in the Energy Star class of products so the Energy Star label will be a reliable indicator of energy savings.”
Media Contacts:
David Butler or Kristina Edmunson, 202-462-6262
Consumers Union of United States, Inc., publisher of Consumer Reports®, is a nonprofit membership organization chartered in 1936 to provide consumers with information, education, and counsel about goods, services, health and personal finance. Consumers Union’s publications and services have a combined paid circulation of approximately 8.3 million. These publications regularly carry articles on Consumers Union’s own product testing; on health, product safety, and marketplace economics; and on legislative, judicial, and regulatory actions that affect consumer welfare. Consumers Union’s income is solely derived from the sale of Consumer Reports®, its other publications and services, fees, noncommercial contributions and grants. Consumers Union’s publications and services carry no outside advertising and receive no commercial support.