2010年4月14日，美国环保局和能源部联合宣布对能源之星产品认证程序的变化以确保只有符合能源之星计划要求的产品才能接收能源之星标签。这些变化促进能源部和环保部在过去几个月中实施的为促进验证、测试和之星能源之星计划各方面的步骤。
    “能源之星计划开始的影响较小但发展迅速，现在其品牌对消费者和各行业都非常有价值”EPA空气和辐射办公室副部长吉娜 麦卡锡说，“对数百万信赖能源之星产品能够节约能源、金钱和保护环境的消费者来说我们所实行的安全措施是非常必要。”
    “消费者相信能源之星产品能够帮他们省钱并降低碳污染”，能源效率与可再生能源办公室助理部长凯蒂 佐伊说：“我们正在采取措施进一步加强和改善能源之星确保其仍然为未来能效的标志。”
    在此次调整中，立即生效的条款为：制造商要想获得“能源之星”的认证标签，必须提交完整的试验报告和评估成果，并由EPA证明，在EPA审核批准该产品为“能源之星”合格产品之前，制造商将无法获得“能源之星”认证标志。同时，在对“能源之星”资格认证审查过程中，EPA加强了批准系统，不再依赖自动批准程序，而是对所有新的资格申请进行检查和批准。
    EPA和DOE将在今年年底前进一步加强“能源之星”的认证程序，规定：所有制造商必须提交由受认可的、批准的实验室出具的测试结果，以保证产品符合“能源之星”要求。目前所涉及的产品有窗户、门、天窗和萤光灯泡等，而在新的检测过程中，“能源之星”计划下的产品类别将会扩大到60多个，包括冷冻柜、冷藏冷冻箱、洗衣机、洗碗机、热水器和房间空气调节器等。
    新闻原文：http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/a1681df7e5a27357852577050058fd62!OpenDocument 

    内容如下：

U.S. EPA, DOE Announce Changes to Bolster Energy Star Program
Release date: 04/14/2010
Contact Information: Dave Ryanryan.dave@epa.gov202-564-7827202-564-4355Enesta Jonesjones.enesta@epa.gov202-564-7873202-564-4355
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy today jointly announced changes to the Energy Star product certification process to ensure that only products meeting the program requirements can receive an Energy Star label. These changes accelerate steps DOE and EPA have initiated over the past several months to bolster the verification, testing and enforcement aspects of the Energy Star program.

The Energy Star program started out small and has grown quickly, and now the brand is immensely valuable to consumers and businesses, said Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. The safeguards were putting into effect are essential for the millions of consumers who rely on Energy Star products to help save energy, money and the environment.

Consumers trust the Energy Star brand to save them money and reduce carbon pollution, said Cathy Zoi, DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The steps we are taking to strengthen the program will ensure that Energy Star continues to be the hallmark for energy efficiency in the years to come.

Effective immediately, manufacturers wishing to qualify their products as Energy Star must submit complete lab reports and results for review and approval by EPA prior to labeling. Following a thorough review of the Energy Star qualification approval process, EPA has strengthened its approval systems and is no longer relying on an automated approval process. All new qualification applications will be reviewed and approved individually by EPA. EPA will begin accepting new applications by the end of the week.
Additionally, companies applying to be program partners will not be able to access the Energy Star certification mark until EPA has approved a specific Energy Star-qualified product submitted by the company.

EPA and DOE are further strengthening the certification process with a requirement effective at the end of the year that all manufacturers must submit test results from an approved, accredited lab for any product seeking the Energy Star label. Testing in an accredited lab is currently required for certain product categories including windows, doors, skylights and compact fluorescent lighting. The new process will extend the requirement to each of the more than 60 eligible product categories under the Energy Star program.

These efforts are in addition to enforcement and testing procedures already in place to ensure compliance with Energy Star specifications. The Department of Energy is conducting off-the-shelf product testing for some of the most common household appliances and a recent Inspector General audit found that 98 percent of products tested fully complied with Energy Star requirements.

The EPA and DOE are committed to continually strengthening and improving the Energy Star program, which provides information to consumers to help identify the most energy efficient products on the market that will save them money and reduce carbon pollution.
The Energy Star program outlined these steps in detail for EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and DOE Secretary Steven Chu in an April 2 memo. More information: http://www.energystar.gov
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