The Energy Saver label first appeared in a pilot program at Sears, Montgomery Ward, and Circuit City stores in Washington, DC this past year. A Sun symbol adorned lighting products that placed within the top 25 percent for energy efficiency and were at least 10 percent more energy efficient than the national minimum efficiency standards.
Beginning in February, 1996, DOE's Energy Saver program will be expanded to products in retail stores in four cities. The program will continue to distinguish lighting products and will work with all major manufacturers to also label worthy refrigerator-freezers, air-conditioners, and clothes washers.
One of the directions the Energy Saver program may be headed is toward use of three tiers of energy-efficiency ratings. Instead of using only one Sun symbol to communicate whether or not products fall within the top 25 percent of energy efficiency, three Suns would denote those products that perform within the top 5 percent, two Suns would be given for those within the 6-15 percentile, and one Sun would distinguish those within the 16-25 percentile.
The program represents a significant foray into the certification arena for the Federal government.