MADISON, Wis. -- There are ongoing problems with the Energy Star program when it comes to refrigerators, according to Consumer Reports' tests.

Energy guide labels on appliances indicate how much electricity the appliance uses, based on tests required by the government. Machines that do well qualify for an energy star, but Consumer Reports found the star rating isn't always reliable.

"In our tests, refrigerators typically use about 20 percent more energy than it says on their yellow energy guide label. That's because our tests are tougher, and we believe they better reflect how you'd actually use a refrigerator," said Celia Kuperszmid-Lehrman, of Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports' tests have found some French-door refrigerators are off by far more. A G.E. refrigerator made by Samsung used almost 40 percent more electricity than the number on its guide suggests. Consumer Reports also found an LG and a Sears' Kenmore made by LG used about 50 percent more energy.

Consumer Reports recommends the government's test procedures be better defined so that manufacturers can't claim energy savings consumers are unlikely to see at home.

For example, Consumer Reports found two refrigerators made by LG use significantly less energy only at the warmest settings required by the government tests, which is unreliable according to Kuperszmid-Lehrman.

'"You're not likely to use those settings because your food's going to spoil faster," explained Kuperszmid-Lehrman. "So you're not going to get the energy savings."

Still, Consumer Reports found plenty of refrigerators that pass tough tests with flying colors, including a top-freezer refrigerator from LG for $850. A side-by-side style freezer will cost more, but it can still be an energy-efficient machine. For example, a Whirlpool Gold costs $2,000 and performed well in consumer reports' tests.