The FTC oversees what information is included on the labels as well as requirements for their display. It also oversees any changes to the labels and whether a new type of appliance is added to the list. The Department of Energy oversees testing procedures as well as minimum energy-efficiency standards for the covered products, which form the basis of the information on the tag. Last spring, the energy-efficiency standards for washers and dryers were updated for the first time in more than 10 years; consumers are likely to start to see savings from those new standards in 2028, when they take effect.
The FTC updates the tags every five years, taking into account technological advances, revisions to the DOE’s minimum energy-efficiency standards, and fluctuations in the average national cost of energy. The last update was in October 2022, and new data was incorporated into the tags starting about nine months later; that means the tags you’re seeing on appliances now should be fairly current. The next update is due in 2027, although the FTC could revise them earlier, “if there’s some sort of development in DOE test procedures or technology that radically changes the range information,” says Hong Park, an attorney with the FTC.
By law, the bright yellow-and-black tags must be visible to consumers—for example, displayed on showroom models. If you can’t find a tag on the outside or inside of the appliance, Park recommends checking the manufacturer’s or retailer’s website, next to the price information. It may take some online searching to find them; make sure to have the specific model number you’re considering to get the right information.
