Led by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, a coalition of state officials has filed suit against the U.S. Energy Department, accusing the agency of failing to set efficiency standards for household appliances. The states say the DOE is six to 13 years behind schedule and has not adopted any appliance efficiency standards since January 2001. The household and commercial products include furnaces, water heaters, washers/dryers, air conditioners, and dishwashers, among others.
