I just read this article and wanted to share it with our neighbors and friends. Beware Energy Star branding as it may not be energy efficient at all (simply the best of the worst when it comes to non efficient appliances). 

Before believing anyone who claims a product is Energy Efficient because it has an Energy Star label do your homework. For example a power vent gas hot water tank could have an Energy Star label and it is only has to be 62% efficient to qualify (62% is NOT energy efficient!) - in fact NO power vent gas hot water tank is energy efficient except the more expensive condensing ones. Buyers beware.

Here is the article - you can visit the website link below to see this article in its original posting.

Energy Star Approval Process Not Very Discriminating
The EPA's Energy Star program is great in theory. It helps consumers quickly recognize the most energy efficient products and, hopefully, encourages them to pick those over the less efficient models. But the problem is that Energy Star relies too much on self-reporting by the product makers, making it relatively easy to game the system. To demonstrate this, the Government Accountability Office conducted a secret evaluation by submitting 20 fake products (including a gasoline-powered alarm clock!) and 4 fake companies for Energy Star approval. The results are shocking.

Four fictional firms with crappy websites and products that existed on paper only were granted Energy Star partnerships, including the obviously tongue-in-cheek Tropical Thunder Appliances.

It's pretty obvious that many of the applications weren't even read. I mean, who in their right mind woud approve a gasoline-powered alarm clock that is described in the application as being "the size of a small generator and powered by gasoline"? This looks like a textbook case of rubber stamping...

Known Problem, Potential Solutions
Sadly, this isn't exactly a new problem. Last year Jaymi wrote about it. But there's some hope. The EPA and DoE have said that they would tighten the standards of Energy Star testing, which is good, but if they want to avoid some big scandal in the future that could forever tarnish the Energy Star logo, they better act quick.

Written by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada

Original artical can be found at:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/energy-star-fake-products-gasoline-powered-alarm-clock.php

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