Via the New York Times:
Does a “gasoline-powered alarm clock” qualify for the EnergyStar label, the government stamp of approval for an energy-saving product?
Like more than a dozen other bogus products submitted for approval since last June by Congressional auditors posing as companies, it easily secured the label, according to a Congressional report to be issued Friday. So did an “air purifier” that was essentially an electric space heater with a feather duster pasted on top, the Government Accountability Office said.
To the right is a picture of the “air purifier” that got an EnergyStar label. The report also finds that once a company is EnergyStar certified, it can download the logo and slap it on just about anything, even if they never submitted the product itself for certification. As for products that do get submitted, generally speaking the government just takes the manufacturer’s word for its energy consumption stats. For instance, according to a report on the Today Show, a refrigerator that carried the EnergyStar label used “twice as much energy as claimed.” They don’t do much, if any, independent testing.
So the whole thing is a sham. Are some products that carry the EnergyStar designation really more energy efficient? Sure. Just like some products that don’t carry the EnergyStar designation might really be more energy efficient than ones that do. Good luck figuring out which ones. It’s a crapshoot, which obviously defeats the purpose of having the designation at all. Naturally, instead of simply shutting down the operation (like they would if it were a private company), they’re going to “reform” it and “strengthen the program.”
And this is the government that some people want to put in charge of the nation’s health care.
What about the Red light camera legislation that passed the state Senate? Here is an interesting link about red light cameras http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-red-light-cameras-part-two-jul13,0,6603390.story
Aurora Illinois installed 3 red light camera’s at very busy intersections. They said accidents were reduced by 43%.
Wow, what a totally lame attempt to bring health care into a subject. You should learn the difference between when the government PROVIDES health care and when it PAYS FOR health care. Supposedly being a “journalist” maybe you’d have time to do research to tell the difference. I guess I can safely unsubscribe to this news feed.
Timothy– Thanks for the input. If you have no sense of humor, then no, this blog probably isn’t for you.
Hey Timothy don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.
Well, I saw the humor in this even though the Government is OK to run the Military, which is huge, so I see no problem with health care. Sure beats what the big 3 insurance companies have been doing to us over the years. Still, if you don’t like the humor here, do you get thrown out by someone named “Pffft”?
And this is the government that some people want to put in charge of the nation’s interstate commerce, monetary policies, and defense.
C.J. you have your point succinctly and humorously… Keep it up!
I am shocked, I tell you SHOCKED, that environmentalism has been perverted into just another marketing come-on. I think I’ll go change my mercury-filled “green” light bulbs.
Gday, Simply wanted to show you that your website is not loading correctly on my iphone 3gs. Have you any idea if there is some setting I have to use to make it show correctly? Everything is out of line.
Simple, get a Blackberry. It loads just fine
It loads just fine on an iPhone as well, that post was from a link builder trying to boost the search engine rankings for the site he linked too.
I know that. I get them posting on my site as well. Just thought it would be fun to throw in my 2 cents.