As a consumer, I did have a negative view of Energy Star. Each year, as I understand it, the standard for achieving that rating involved progressively leaner use of power or water by the appliance e.g. washing machine.

I bought a new washer. It didn't do anything (get the clothes clean) until you manually modified the water and time settings to the max. Overriding any Energy Star feature essentially.

Annoying, to have to do this every time. Forget and you had a tub of stinky clothes and had to wash them again. Not saving anything of course; wasting that entire first run.

But it's not about my frustration, it should be about actual sane standards. Is anyone considering that, I wonder.