Meeting the Growing Need for Testing

February 26, 2010 - In all the talking I do about efficiency specs, one subject I haven't touched on much is the testing done to ensure that specs are actually being met. As specifications get tighter, especially in cases where they are mandatory, the ability to document and certify compliance will become a greater concern. In fact, many standards organizations are now requiring third-party testing from accredited labs in order for products to receive certification.

To meet this need, UL Environment (ULE - an Underwriters Laboratory company) just announced that they are offering an energy efficiency certification service. The service uses a four step process where 1) a client submits a project, 2) testing and analysis are done, 3) certification is completed, and 4) after certification, reassessment is done to ensure products continue to meet changing standards. For more specifics on the process, see ULE's Energy Efficiency Certification Service Terms.

At the onset, the new ULE certification process is designed to address specs for the following standards organizations:

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR® Program
• California Energy Commission (CEC)
• Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
• ENERGY STAR® International

More organizations are to be added soon.

The list of products is quite extensive and covers several product types in categories including appliances, building materials, electronics, HVAC, and lighting, just to name a few.

UL Environment Energy Efficiency Certification Mark Once products have been certified, they get to wear the ULE Energy Efficiency Certification Mark. This is especially important in Canada where certain products are required to have such labels as proof of successful efficiency testing. ULE certified products are also added to a searchable database of validated and certified products.

The move by ULE makes good sense. Lately, there have been occasions where, after the fact, products have been found to not meet specifications and labels have been pulled. Third party testing from reputable labs will greatly reduce the headache and expense of such actions.