Energy Star Rating Said To Be Given To Wide Range Of Efficiencies

Washington Post (Fahrenthold) reports that in 2008, the most recent year for which the government has data, the Energy Star program, "instead of recognizing only high-performing products," appears to have "often" given "the same star to the first-rate and the middle-of-the-road." There is the concern that if the market is filled with Energy Star products, it could "dilute customers' confidence and weaken the pressure on manufacturers to get better." However, Energy Department and EPA officials "said it is tricky to determine when standards should be adjusted. If these become too tough too fast, they said, Energy Star products could become difficult to find." Still, "they resolved to update the criteria faster" and to test more products. Meanwhile, Energy Star "will be crucial to a nearly $300 million White House program that resembles 'Cash for Clunkers.'" Hat Tip: NAM