Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, ADVERTISING NEWS: FTC approves changes to EnergyGuide Labels for appliances, (Jul 17, 2013)

By Jody Coultas, J.D.

The FTC announced yesterday that it has approved new EnergyGuide labels for refrigerators and clothes washers, and updated comparative energy consumption information on labels for other appliances, to help consumers compare products in light of new Department of Energy (DOE) tests for measuring energy costs.

Manufacturers must attach yellow EnergyGuide labels that state the annual operating cost and energy consumption rating of the product, and a label showing a range consumer may use to compare the highest and lowest energy consumption for all similar models. EnergyGuide labels appear on clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, room air conditioners, central air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, pool heaters, and televisions. The new labels for refrigerators and clothes washers will help consumers identify which models have been tested under the significantly revised DOE test procedures that manufacturers will begin using next year. The labels will also allow consumers to compare the energy costs related to the products.

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