WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and
the Department of Energy (DOE) have
finalized changes to the Energy Star
program that address irregularities in
the product-certification process. As
previously reported in TWICE, manufacturers
must now submit complete
lab reports and results for review and
approval by EPA prior to labeling their
products as Energy Star-qualified.
EPA has also ended its automated
approval process, and will begin individual
reviews and approvals for all
new applications.