The Department of Energy has announced that, as of Jan. 20, LG Electronics will be banned from using the Energy Star label on 20 of its refrigerator-freezer models.

The agency, which has received criticism for failing to ensure the integrity of products bearing the Energy Star label, said the refrigerators did not deliver required energy and cost savings, and that it was taking steps to protect the American public.

“D.O.E. is proceeding with this action after multiple independent labs have confirmed that when certain LG French-door refrigerator-freezers are tested using existing D.O.E. test procedures, they do not qualify for the Energy Star program,” the agency stated.

LG responded by filing a lawsuit against D.O.E. in federal court. The company claims the agency is requiring use of a new test procedure to measure efficiency that was not clarified to LG.

“LG shares the D.O.E.’s objective of improving the rules to provide accurate energy information to consumers,” the company said in a prepared statement, “but LG objects to the process which the D.O.E. is following.”

In a brief filed with the court opposing LG’s suit, D.O.E. said it did not believe the company would suffer irreparable harm due to the loss of the Energy Star designation, as claimed by LG, but it did acknowledge that LG’s ability to fully participate in appliance rebate programs could be affected.

Such programs often require Energy Star certification as an eligibility requirement.

Testing of LG’s French-door fridges conducted by Consumer Reports last year found that energy usage was typically twice that claimed by the company.

The agency affirmed this discrepancy in subsequent testing and attributed it to the company measuring energy use with the ice-making system switched off.

D.O.E. directs manufacturers to run the energy tests while the ice-maker and its components are on, but “inoperative,” or not in active operation. This allows for the assessment of overall energy use while the ice-maker is powered on but not actively making ice, Jen Stutsman, a D.O.E. spokesperson, told Green Inc.

The definition of the word “inoperative” is at the core of the dispute. According to D.O.E.’s brief, LG understood “inoperative” to mean turning the ice-maker off. D.O.E, by contrast, believes the test procedures require ice-makers to be “inoperative, not off.”

D.O.E. said its action against LG was part of a broader effort by the agency to increase enforcement efforts for both Energy Star and the federal appliance standard program, which sets mandatory energy efficiency and water use requirements for a number of products, from air conditioners to urinals.

“The Obama administration has made energy efficiency one of its highest priorities, undertaking a multipronged effort to expand access to energy efficiency technologies, protect the Energy Star label, and increase the enforcement of minimum efficiency standards for appliances,” Ms. Stutsman said.

“Over the coming months, the Department of Energy will continue to move aggressively to meet our energy efficiency goals and ensure that the American people are benefiting from the energy and cost savings promised by manufacturers across the country.”