In a recent report, the EPA inspector general was critical of efforts to deal with the misuse of the Energy Star rating. "The Energy Star staff believe that Energy Star products not meeting qualification standards for the program will be reported to EPA by rivals," the report says. But "Energy Star program officials did not produce any evidence the asserted self-policing is occurring."

The DOE is also addressing issues that arose out of a 2006 settlement it reached after being sued by the NRDC, several states, and others to force it to create new energy standards and revise others.

Consumers Union recommends the following changes to fine-tune Energy Star:

Efforts like those could go a long way toward keeping nonqualified products from getting the Energy Star since pulling qualification from a product would be a big blow to a major manufacturer.

Until the federal government revamps its energy-use procedures and standards, you could be left wondering whether you're getting what you pay for when you reach for the Energy Star.