FTC Approves Federal Register Notice on Energy Labeling Requirements for Ceiling Fans

Commission approval of Federal Register notice: The Commission has approved the publication of a Federal Register notice concerning the amendment of the energy labeling requirements for ceiling fans. The notice will be published shortly and can be found on the Commission’s Web site as a link to this press release. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 directs the Commission to develop labels for the electricity used by ceiling fans. Under the proposed requirements, the labels will provide energy information to consumers when they shop for ceiling fans in stores and on the Internet.

The label will display: 1) airflow (i.e., fan strength); 2) electricity use in watts; and 3) airflow efficiency (i.e., the fan’s electricity use compared to the amount of air it moves). The FTC previously issued a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on the effectiveness of the proposed requirements and on alternative labeling approaches the Commission should consider. The public comment period ended on September 8, 2006, and the FTC is now announcing the final amended Rule, which does not contain any significant modifications from the rule published in the September notice.

The Commission vote authorizing the publication of the Federal Register notice was 5-0. (FTC File No. R611018; the staff contact is Hampton Newsome, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2889; see related press release dated June 16, 2006.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.