“The Energy Star label is a critical tool for consumers looking to save energy and money with their appliances,” said DOE General Counsel Scott Blake Harris in a press release. “We have found that these [LG and LG-made] refrigerator-freezer models do not deliver the energy and cost savings promised under the Energy Star program, so we are taking the necessary steps to protect the American public.” In a subsequent Dow Jones Newswire story, Harris described certain LG models as the “Hummers of refrigerators.”
(Why should you care about a matter that might seem to be of interest only to techno-geeks? In short, you should expect your refrigerator to use the amount of energy claimed by the manufacturer, especially when you’ve bought an Energy Star model that likely costs more than nonqualifying models. Indeed, “The money you save on your utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but more efficient Energy Star model,” notes this page on the Energy Star Web site. And without Energy Star qualification, these LG models cannot be part of the DOE’s $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, or cash for clunkers for appliances.)
The decision by the DOE marks the second time in just over a year that the agency removed LG and LG-made refrigerators from the list of Energy Star-qualified models. In both instances, some ice-making components on the refrigerators were at the crux of the matter.
In November 2008, several LG and LG-made Kenmore Trio French-door refrigerators lost their Energy Star qualification because of concerns over the manufacturer’s method to measure energy use. Read “LG Pulls Some Refrigerators from Energy Star Program” for more details.
The 2008 Energy Star delisting was written into an agreement between the DOE and LG (PDF) in which the manufacturer said it would amend its test methods. As of last week, LG still hadn’t done so, according to the DOE. As a result, the agency exercised its right to terminate the agreement and to pull the Energy Star label from 10 LG models (LFX21975ST, LFX25975SB, LFX25975ST, LFX25975SW, LFX28977SB, LFX28977ST, LFX28977SW, LMX25985SB, LMX25985ST, LMX25985SW) and 10 LG-made Kenmore models (79732, 79733, 79737, 79752, 79753, 79754, 79757, 79782, 79783, 79789).
LG Electronics USA has filed a complaint with U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., claiming that the Energy Department has taken unilateral measures against the manufacturer and that the agency should pursue an industry-wide approach to new testing standards for refrigerators.
"LG has been inappropriately singled out over a unique design having to do with our icemaker," says John Taylor, vice president of government relations and communications for LG. The fill tube and ice-ejection heaters, part of the refrigerators’ ice-making systems, are integral to LG's icemaker and therefore should not be considered part of any test-procedure exception, claims Taylor. "This DOE is changing its definition of an icemaker, and that needs to be part of an industry-wide process," he adds.
The DOE disagrees. “LG has erroneously claimed that the exception to the test procedure [given to them] in the agreement was our test procedure for the industry,” wrote Jen Stutsman, DOE deputy press secretary, in an e-mail to Consumer Reports. “In actuality, the test procedure LG was following was the exception to the industry standard. In order to treat all manufacturers fairly and equally and ensure Energy Star products were delivering the promised energy and cost savings for the American people, it was necessary to revoke the exception.”
This latest move by the DOE shows the agency making strides to address some of the issues highlighted in our October 2008 report “Energy Star Has Lost Some Luster.” We'd also like to see the Energy Department update its testing procedures and energy-use standards more quickly and on a continual basis.
—Daniel DiClerico
Our LG french door refrig/freezer has had a problem with the ice maker. It drips water into the ice bin and of course makes big clups of ice and then it won't come down the shutt because it is to large and it has broken the outside tube where the ice comes through, we have had the icemaker replaced but it still does not work right, I have to keep turning it off, and 3 years ago, was when we had the repair man out and it said it was not under warrenty. We have had the refrig., now for 5 years. I am very disappointed with LG, because the repairman said they Knew there was a problem, I will never buy any products again. Thank you but I am sure you will not post this it is to negative.
I purchased a Kenmore (LG) Trio refrigerator 2 years ago and not only is it not an Energy Star it has the icemaker problem the entire time we've had it. LG put in a part after it was discovered that they had falsified the test but it didn't help the icemaker problem that most of us have. At the time they sent us a check for about $38 to make up the difference in what we would have saved if our refrigerator was actually energy efficient. We were to receive a check for the next 14 years. This year our check was for $3.82. Wow. That sure makes it worth saving energy by purchasing the expensive Energy Star models. It doesn't even come close to covering the insurance we need to cover the icemaker as the repairman told us it would be about $600 to replace. I feel like we were defrauded by LG and Sears AND our government, who really didn't do anything for the consumers. It seems like a big government bureauracy using our money and delivering us pennies in return and bad service while patting themselves on the back. I am so disgusted.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Susan
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