From our president

This monthly letter to subscribers from Consumers Union President Jim Guest highlights the critical consumer issues behind our current reports. See archived letters.

Wash, spin & save

You probably won't get the same thrill out of taking a new washer for a spin as taking a new car, but the pending cash-for-clunkers for appliances program may have gotten your attention anyway.

The stimulus bill included $300 million in rebates for efficient appliances. Though states and territories set their own rules, they'll probably require units to be Energy Star compliant.

But even the government isn't sure that all Energy Star-labeled appliances deserve that sticker. A Department of Energy audit released in October found a host of problems with the program, including the fact that by allowing manufacturers to certify their own appliances, regulators have in essence put the fox in charge of the henhouse.

Consumers Union has long said the same, in articles and in Senate testimony. We've also noted that the government's test procedures lag far behind appliance technology. So consumers see an energy-efficiency number that they can't always trust.

That's why Consumer Reports runs energy-consumption tests and rates energy use for many appliances. Our lab tests are modeled on how you'd actually use an appliance; government protocols are much less representative.

The Energy Star program has real pluses, and our testing suggests that most companies follow the rules. But standards should be stricter, the bar should be higher—so only the most efficient products get the label—and manufacturers' claims should be verified by independent third parties.

For the latest on cash-for-clunkers for appliances and to see our energy Ratings, go to www.ConsumerReports.org/clunkers.

Jim Guest
President