The U.S. consumes approximately 18.6 percent of the world’s
primary energy. The U.S. makes extensive use of minimum
standards, endorsement labels, and comparative labels to improve
the energy efficiency of equipment and appliances. The
Department of Energy's (DOE) Appliances and Commercial Equipment
Standards Program develops test procedures and minimum
efficiency standards for residential appliances and commercial
equipment. The first appliance standards were enacted in 1987,
and since that time a series of laws and DOE regulations have
established, and periodically updated, energy efficiency or
water use standards for over 50 categories of appliances and
equipment used in the residential, commercial and industrial
sectors. Since 1980, manufacturers of certain appliances have
been required to attach comparison labels to their appliances to
give consumers important information about energy use. The
Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Appliance Labeling Rule
currently requires EnergyGuide labels on refrigerators,