The Federal Trade Commission is accepting input through Dec. 27 on a potential expansion of, and other changes to, the Energy Labeling Rule.
The Rule requires manufacturers to attach yellow EnergyGuide labels to many covered products, which currently include refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, freezers, dishwashers, water heaters, clothes washers, air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, plumbing products, lighting products, ceiling fans, and televisions. The labels contain three main disclosures: estimated annual energy cost, a product’s energy consumption or energy efficiency rating, and a comparability range displaying the highest and lowest energy costs or efficiency ratings for all similar models. Sellers, including retailers, must post label information on websites and in paper catalogs.
The FTC is now seeking comments on whether to add the following new product categories (or others that may be appropriate) to the labeling program.
- clothes dryers
- air purifiers
- miscellaneous refrigerator products (e.g., coolers and combination cooler refrigeration products)
- lower-brightness light bulbs
- residential ice makers
- humidifiers
- miscellaneous gas products (decorative hearths and outdoor heaters (e.g., fire pits))
- cooking tops
- electric spas
Other changes the FTC is considering include (1) amended requirements on where labels are placed, (2) requiring manufacturers to provide consumers with access to repair information, (3) revisions to the label content and format requirements (e.g., allowing QR codes), (4) requiring light bulb manufacturers to include information regarding their lighting facts labels with their data reports, and (5) guidance on bilingual labels for covered consumer products.
Copyright © 2025 Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.; WorldTrade Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.