DOE: Additional Energy Efficiency Enforcement Action to Protect Consumers
DOE announced on January 7 that it has entered into a Consent Decree with Haier America, resolving an investigation into whether Haier violated DOE's energy efficiency standards.
DOE's investigation led Haier to determine that a parts defect caused certain freezers to consume more energy than was represented to consumers, possibly violating DOE's energy efficiency standards and the Energy Star requirements for freezers. As part of the Obama Administration's commitment to enforcing energy efficiency, the Consent Decree obligates Haier to notify affected consumers, repair defective units, extend the warranty by one year, and pay a voluntary contribution of $150,000 to the U.S. Treasury.
During the investigation by DOE's Office of General Counsel, Haier voluntarily identified the freezer parts defect and took immediate steps to remedy it. Haier's cooperation with the DOE investigation was critical in reaching the Consent Decree, the first ever entered into by DOE to enforce minimum energy efficiency standards. DOE encourages all manufacturers to follow Haier's example.
DOE also announced it has received certifications from 160 manufacturers for more than 600,000 residential appliances in 15 different product categories in response to its enhanced energy efficiency enforcement efforts. DOE recently informed manufacturers that they had until January 8 to submit correct energy-use data before aggressive enforcement actions would be taken. See the DOE press release.
DOE to Support Clean Energy Projects in Costa Rica, Caribbean
DOE has selected three initial projects under the Low-Carbon Communities of the Americas program, launched in June 2009 to assist countries in Latin America with sustainable energy market transformation initiatives.
The three projects include an energy efficiency center in Costa Rica, a project to study and install small wind turbines on the Caribbean island of Dominica, and a broader effort to create low-carbon communities in the Caribbean.
The Costa Rican energy efficiency center will train professionals in energy efficient technologies and auditing procedures and help expand the technical knowledge base and capabilities of countries across Central America. The project will bring together DOE; the Natural Resources Defense Council; ICE Grupo, Costa Rica's electricity and telecommunications group; and the University of Costa Rica.
In Dominica, small wind turbines will be examined in terms of available technologies, economics, feasibility, commercialization strategies, and impacts on the electrical grid, leading to the pilot installation of turbines and a public information campaign.
Dominica is also part of a broader effort in the Caribbean, under which the Organization of American States and selected Caribbean governments will enable participating countries to expand development and use of renewable energy and energy efficiency systems. The project will also involve the island governments of Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
DOE invited countries to submit proposals for collaboration in areas including renewable energy development and building and industrial energy efficiency. DOE's National Renewable Energy Lab, along with other national labs, will provide technical assistance to countries receiving support under the initiative. See the
DOE press release.
