A new Congressional report raises the question, “Should you trust Energy Star?” The study says the program approved 15 bogus products, including a gas-powered alarm clock and an air purifier that looked like a space heater with a feather duster on top.

Obviously, this type of information definitely takes some shine off of the Energy Star label, and that hurts its credibility with appliances and with building labeling.

Coincidentally or not (I am not a believer in coincidence), the EPA and DOE announced several items to strenghten the Energy Star brand, including testing and enforcement procedures, and an independent review of 60 products.