The Department of Energy has released new findings that show a handful of appliances may not be as energy efficient as advertised because of problems with the Energy Star labeling program.

"They found some very negative findings about the program," Celia Kuperszmid Leharman with Consumer Reports said.

The Energy Star label is supposed to guarantee that an appliance is in the top 25 percent of energy efficiency. However, an internal audit found that the DOE has not properly tracked how the label was used.

"We won't stand for manufacturers misusing the logo," Cathy Zoi, assistant secretary of energy efficiency and renewable energy at the Department of Energy, said.

There is some evidence that some have put the label on appliances that are not energy efficient.

Initially, manufacturers would self-report whether their products met the Energy Star guidelines. That will now change.

"We will now ensure that all products get independently tested," Zoi said.

"We think third-party testing is a great way to make sure that the customers are getting the energy savings that they're paying for," Lane Burt with the National Resources Defense Council said.

Industry watchdogs are quick to point out that despite a few problems, the Energy Star program is not a washout.

"It's not like we found rampant cheating and misrepresentation in our testing. I think that for now that the stickers are pretty reliable and they're good comparative things from one product to the next," Kuperszmid Leharman said.

If you are considering a new appliance, the DOE Web site, www.energy.gov, can tell you how much money you can save comparing your old appliance to a newer model.