The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed penalties against 27 companies for allegedly selling products in the United States without certifying that they comply with energy-efficiency and water-conservation standards.
The 27 companies include manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of appliance, plumbing, and lighting products.
Collectively, the notices propose penalty fees exceeding $3.5 million, though these fines may be reduced if the companies quickly comply with certification requirements, according to DOE. Unless companies address these claims within 30 days, DOE will file actions either in U.S. district court or with an administrative law judge to demand payment of the proposed penalties.
Under the Obama administration, DOE has created energy-efficiency standards for more than 20 different product categories that are expected to save consumers $250-300 billion on their energy bills through 2030. Earlier this year, DOE gave companies 30 days to submit correct energy use before enforcement actions were taken.
Over the past year, DOE's appliance standards enforcement efforts have accomplished the following:
- Removed from the market 66 products that failed to meet federal energy-efficiency standards.
- Initiated 75 enforcement investigations and actions, including the latest round of 27 new penalty cases.
- Led to the certification of more than 600,000 products with DOE.
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The companies include the following: Absocold Corp.; Aero-Tech Light Bulb Co.; Afeel Corp.; Allen Co.; AM Conservation Group Inc.; American Power Solutions; American Valve Inc.; AmeriSink; Artisan Manufacturing Corp.; ASKO Appliances AB; Averen Inc.; Basement Systems Inc.; Daewoo International Corp.; De'Longhi America Inc.; Duralamp USA Inc.; Engineered Solutions; Felix Storch Inc.; General Electric Appliances; Hayward Industries Inc.; Hisense Kelon Electrical Holddings Co. Ltd.; Lumiram Electric Corp.; Navien America; Quietside Inc.; Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd.; Stiebel Eltron Inc.; Jandy Pool Products Inc.; and Westland Sales.
Steve Rizer, Editor
Green Building Insider
