Ann Arbor Township-based NSF International, a quality auditing and certification not-for-profit, can start assessing a variety of products through the federal government's Energy Star program, officials announced this afternoon.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave NSF the right to certify products through the Energy Star program, which lends a special icon to products that meet certain energy-efficiency standards.

NSF had already received Energy Star approval to review commercial refrigerators and freezers, but the latest news means NSF can certify products that fall under several other categories, including appliances such as dishwashers, and commercial beverage vending machines.

The ability to certify products as Energy Star qualified adds to NSF's growing roster of certification services. The firm wants to become a place where clients can get certifications under a variety of programs.

In fall 2009, for example, NSF added seafood quality testing to its services after acquiring a firm based in the state of Washington.

"With EPA recognition to validate Energy Star products, NSF can now provide food service equipment manufacturers a 'one-stop shop' for energy efficiency testing, sanitation testing and certification, which will save manufacturers both time and money,” NSF International Vice President Nancy Culotta said in a statement. "Consumers can be assured an Energy Star product that has been tested and certified by an independent third-party organization such as NSF International has met all Energy Star energy performance requirements.”

NSF has more than 400 employees at its headquarters in Ann Arbor Township. The firm has about two dozen offices globally and about $150 million in annual revenues.

Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.