Long Fence & Home, LLLP; Analysis of Proposed Consent Order To Aid Public Comment, 12588-12590 [2012-4998]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 12588 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 41 / Thursday, March 1, 2012 / Notices acts and practices in the future. Part I addresses the marketing of windows. It prohibits respondent from making any representation that: (A) Consumers who replace their windows with respondent’s windows achieve up to or a specified amount or percentage of energy savings or reduction in heating and cooling costs; or (B) respondent guarantees or pledges that consumers who replace their windows with respondent’s windows will achieve up to or a specified amount or percentage of energy savings or reduction in heating and cooling costs; unless the representation is non-misleading and, at the time of making such representation, respondent possesses and relies upon competent and reliable scientific evidence to substantiate that all or almost all consumers are likely to receive the maximum represented savings or reduction. Further, if respondent represents, guarantees, or pledges that consumers achieve such energy savings or heating and cooling cost reductions under specified circumstances, it must: Disclose those circumstances clearly and prominently in close proximity to such representation, guarantee, or pledge; and substantiate that all or almost all consumers are likely to receive the maximum represented, guaranteed, or pledged savings or reduction under those circumstances (e.g., when replacing a window of a specific composition in a building having a specific level of insulation in a specific region). The performance standard imposed under this Part constitutes fencing-in relief reasonably necessary to ensure that any future energy savings or reduction claims are not deceptive. Parts II and III address any product or service for which respondent makes any energy-related efficacy representation. Part II prohibits respondent from making any representation: (A) That any specific number or percentage of consumers who replace their windows with respondent’s windows achieve energy savings or reduction in heating and cooling costs; or (B) about energy consumption, energy savings, energy costs, heating and cooling costs, Ufactor, solar heat gain coefficient, Rvalue, K-value, insulating properties, thermal performance, or energy-related efficacy; unless the representation is non-misleading and substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence. Part III prohibits respondent from providing to others the means and instrumentalities with which to make any false, unsubstantiated, or otherwise misleading representation of material fact. It defines ‘‘means and VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:25 Feb 29, 2012 Jkt 226001 instrumentalities’’ to mean any information, including any advertising, labeling, or promotional, sales training, or purported substantiation materials, for use by trade customers in their marketing of any such product or service. Parts IV through VII require respondent to: Keep copies of advertisements and materials relied upon in disseminating any representation covered by the order; provide copies of the order to certain personnel, agents, and representatives having responsibilities with respect to the subject matter of the order; notify the Commission of changes in its structure that might affect compliance obligations under the order; and file a compliance report with the Commission and respond to other requests from FTC staff. Part VIII provides that the order will terminate after twenty (20) years under certain circumstances. The purpose of this analysis is to facilitate public comment on the proposed order. It is not intended to constitute an official interpretation of the complaint or the proposed order, or to modify the proposed order’s terms in any way. By direction of the Commission, Commissioner Rosch abstaining. Donald S. Clark, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2012–4999 Filed 2–29–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6750–01–P FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION [File No. 112 3005] Long Fence & Home, LLLP; Analysis of Proposed Consent Order To Aid Public Comment Federal Trade Commission. Proposed consent agreement. AGENCY: ACTION: The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent order—embodied in the consent agreement—that would settle these allegations. DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 23, 2012. ADDRESSES: Interested parties may file a comment online or on paper, by following the instructions in the Request for Comment part of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. Write ‘‘Long Fence & Home, File SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 No. 112 3005’’ on your comment, and file your comment online at https:// ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/ longfencehomeconsent, by following the instructions on the web-based form. If you prefer to file your comment on paper, mail or deliver your comment to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H–113 (Annex D), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James A. Kohm (202–326–2640) or Joshua S. Millard (202–326–2454), FTC, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 6(f) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 38 Stat. 721, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and § 2.34 the Commission Rules of Practice, 16 CFR 2.34, notice is hereby given that the above-captioned consent agreement containing a consent order to cease and desist, having been filed with and accepted, subject to final approval, by the Commission, has been placed on the public record for a period of thirty (30) days. The following Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes the terms of the consent agreement, and the allegations in the complaint. An electronic copy of the full text of the consent agreement package can be obtained from the FTC Home Page (for February 22, 2012), on the World Wide Web, at https:// www.ftc.gov/os/actions.shtm. A paper copy can be obtained from the FTC Public Reference Room, Room 130–H, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580, either in person or by calling (202) 326–2222. You can file a comment online or on paper. For the Commission to consider your comment, we must receive it on or before March 23, 2012. Write ALong Fence & Home, File No. 112 3005’’ on your comment. Your comment B including your name and your state B will be placed on the public record of this proceeding, including, to the extent practicable, on the public Commission Web site, at https://www.ftc.gov/os/ publiccomments.shtm. As a matter of discretion, the Commission tries to remove individuals’ home contact information from comments before placing them on the Commission Web site. Because your comment will be made public, you are solely responsible for making sure that your comment does not include any sensitive personal information, like anyone’s Social Security number, date of birth, driver’s license number or other state E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM 01MRN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 41 / Thursday, March 1, 2012 / Notices identification number or foreign country equivalent, passport number, financial account number, or credit or debit card number. You are also solely responsible for making sure that your comment does not include any sensitive health information, like medical records or other individually identifiable health information. In addition, do not include any ‘‘[t]rade secret or any commercial or financial information which is obtained from any person and which is privileged or confidential,’’ as provided in Section 6(f) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and FTC Rule 4.10(a)(2), 16 CFR 4.10(a)(2). In particular, do not include competitively sensitive information such as costs, sales statistics, inventories, formulas, patterns, devices, manufacturing processes, or customer names. If you want the Commission to give your comment confidential treatment, you must file it in paper form, with a request for confidential treatment, and you have to follow the procedure explained in FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).1 Your comment will be kept confidential only if the FTC General Counsel, in his or her sole discretion, grants your request in accordance with the law and the public interest. Postal mail addressed to the Commission is subject to delay due to heightened security screening. As a result, we encourage you to submit your comments online. To make sure that the Commission considers your online comment, you must file it at https:// ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/ longfencehomeconsent by following the instructions on the web-based form. If this Notice appears at https:// www.regulations.gov/#!home, you also may file a comment through that Web site. If you file your comment on paper, write ‘‘Long Fence & Home, File No. 112 3005’’ on your comment and on the envelope, and mail or deliver it to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H–113 (Annex D), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580. If possible, submit your paper comment to the Commission by courier or overnight service. Visit the Commission Web site at https://www.ftc.gov to read this Notice and the news release describing it. The FTC Act and other laws that the Commission administers permit the collection of public comments to 1 In particular, the written request for confidential treatment that accompanies the comment must include the factual and legal basis for the request, and must identify the specific portions of the comment to be withheld from the public record. See FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c). VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:25 Feb 29, 2012 Jkt 226001 consider and use in this proceeding as appropriate. The Commission will consider all timely and responsive public comments that it receives on or before March 23, 2012. You can find more information, including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, in the Commission’s privacy policy, at https://www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.htm. Analysis of Agreement Containing Consent Order To Aid Public Comment The Federal Trade Commission (‘‘FTC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) has accepted, subject to final approval, an agreement containing a consent order from Long Fence & Home, LLLP, a partnership (‘‘respondent’’). The proposed consent order has been placed on the public record for thirty (30) days for receipt of comments by interested persons. Comments received during this period will become part of the public record. After thirty (30) days, the Commission will again review the agreement and the comments received, and will decide whether it should withdraw from the agreement or make final the agreement’s proposed order. This matter involves respondent’s marketing and sale of replacement windows for use in residences. According to the FTC complaint, respondent represented that consumers who replace their windows with Long Windows’ Quantum2 replacement windows with SuperPak Glass are likely to achieve residential energy savings of 50% or save 50% on residential heating and cooling costs. The complaint alleges that respondent did not possess and rely upon a reasonable basis substantiating these representations when it made them. Many factors determine the savings homeowners can realize by replacing their windows, including the home’s geographic location, size, insulation package, and existing windows. Consumers who replace single or double-paned wood or vinylframed windows—common residential window types in the United States— with LongWindows replacement windows are not likely to achieve a 50% reduction in residential energy consumption or heating and cooling costs. Thus, the complaint alleges that respondent engaged in unfair or deceptive practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act. The proposed consent order contains two provisions designed to prevent respondent from engaging in similar acts and practices in the future. Part I addresses the marketing of windows. It prohibits respondent from making any representation that: (A) consumers who replace their windows with respondent’s windows achieve up to or PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 12589 a specified amount or percentage of energy savings or reduction in heating and cooling costs; or (B) respondent guarantees or pledges that consumers who replace their windows with respondent’s windows will achieve up to or a specified amount or percentage of energy savings or reduction in heating and cooling costs; unless the representation is non-misleading and, at the time of making such representation, respondent possesses and relies upon competent and reliable scientific evidence to substantiate that all or almost all consumers are likely to receive the maximum represented savings or reduction. Further, if respondent represents, guarantees, or pledges that consumers achieve such energy savings or heating and cooling cost reductions under specified circumstances, it must: disclose those circumstances clearly and prominently in close proximity to such representation, guarantee, or pledge; and substantiate that all or almost all consumers are likely to receive the maximum represented, guaranteed, or pledged savings or reduction under those circumstances (e.g., when replacing a window of a specific composition in a building having a specific level of insulation in a specific region). The performance standard imposed under this Part constitutes fencing-in relief reasonably necessary to ensure that any future energy savings or reduction claims are not deceptive. Part I of the order requires substantiation for representations including the words ‘‘up to’’ because the respondent may elect to make such representations in the future. The words ‘‘up to’’ do not effectively qualify representations regarding the energy savings or cost reductions likely to be achieved through replacement windows. Therefore, Part I requires the same level of substantiation regardless of whether the covered representation includes the words ‘‘up to.’’ The FTC’s proposed consent order should not be interpreted as a general statement of how the Commission may interpret or take other action concerning representations including the words ‘‘up to’’ for other products or services in the future. Part II addresses any product or service for which respondent makes any energy-related efficacy representation. It prohibits respondent from making any representation: (A) That any specific number or percentage of consumers who replace their windows with respondent’s windows achieve energy savings or reduction in heating and cooling costs; or (B) about energy consumption, energy savings, energy E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM 01MRN1 12590 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 41 / Thursday, March 1, 2012 / Notices costs, heating and cooling costs, Ufactor, solar heat gain coefficient, Rvalue, K-value, insulating properties, thermal performance, or energy-related efficacy; unless the representation is non-misleading and substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence. Parts III though VI require respondent to: Keep copies of advertisements and materials relied upon in disseminating any representation covered by the order; provide copies of the order to certain personnel, agents, and representatives having responsibilities with respect to the subject matter of the order; notify the Commission of changes in its structure that might affect compliance obligations under the order; and file a compliance report with the Commission and respond to other requests from FTC staff. Part VII provides that the order will terminate after twenty (20) years under certain circumstances. The purpose of this analysis is to facilitate public comment on the proposed order. It is not intended to constitute an official interpretation of the complaint or the proposed order, or to modify the proposed order’s terms in any way. By direction of the Commission, Commissioner Rosch abstaining. Donald S. Clark, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2012–4998 Filed 2–29–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6750–01–P FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION [File No. 102 3171] Winchester Industries; Analysis of Proposed Consent Order To Aid Public Comment Federal Trade Commission. Proposed consent agreement. AGENCY: ACTION: The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent order—embodied in the consent agreement—that would settle these allegations. DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 23, 2012. ADDRESSES: Interested parties may file a comment online or on paper, by following the instructions in the Request for Comment part of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. Write ‘‘Winchester, File No. 102 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:25 Feb 29, 2012 Jkt 226001 3171’’ on your comment, and file your comment online at https:// ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/ winchesterconsent, by following the instructions on the web-based form. If you prefer to file your comment on paper, mail or deliver your comment to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H–113 (Annex D), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James A. Kohm (202–326–2640) or Joshua S. Millard (202–326–2454), FTC, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 6(f) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 38 Stat. 721, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and § 2.34 the Commission Rules of Practice, 16 CFR 2.34, notice is hereby given that the above-captioned consent agreement containing a consent order to cease and desist, having been filed with and accepted, subject to final approval, by the Commission, has been placed on the public record for a period of thirty (30) days. The following Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes the terms of the consent agreement, and the allegations in the complaint. An electronic copy of the full text of the consent agreement package can be obtained from the FTC Home Page (for February 22, 2012), on the World Wide Web, at https:// www.ftc.gov/os/actions.shtm. A paper copy can be obtained from the FTC Public Reference Room, Room 130–H, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580, either in person or by calling (202) 326–2222. You can file a comment online or on paper. For the Commission to consider your comment, we must receive it on or before March 23, 2012. Write ‘‘Winchester, File No. 102 3171’’ on your comment. Your comment— including your name and your state— will be placed on the public record of this proceeding, including, to the extent practicable, on the public Commission Web site, at https://www.ftc.gov/os/ publiccomments.shtm. As a matter of discretion, the Commission tries to remove individuals’ home contact information from comments before placing them on the Commission Web site. Because your comment will be made public, you are solely responsible for making sure that your comment does not include any sensitive personal information, like anyone’s Social Security number, date of birth, driver’s license number or other state PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 identification number or foreign country equivalent, passport number, financial account number, or credit or debit card number. You are also solely responsible for making sure that your comment does not include any sensitive health information, like medical records or other individually identifiable health information. In addition, do not include any ‘‘[t]rade secret or any commercial or financial information which is obtained from any person and which is privileged or confidential,’’ as provided in Section 6(f) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and FTC Rule 4.10(a)(2), 16 CFR 4.10(a)(2). In particular, do not include competitively sensitive information such as costs, sales statistics, inventories, formulas, patterns, devices, manufacturing processes, or customer names. If you want the Commission to give your comment confidential treatment, you must file it in paper form, with a request for confidential treatment, and you have to follow the procedure explained in FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).1 Your comment will be kept confidential only if the FTC General Counsel, in his or her sole discretion, grants your request in accordance with the law and the public interest. Postal mail addressed to the Commission is subject to delay due to heightened security screening. As a result, we encourage you to submit your comments online. To make sure that the Commission considers your online comment, you must file it at https:// ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/ winchesterconsent by following the instructions on the web-based form. If this Notice appears at https:// www.regulations.gov/#!home, you also may file a comment through that Web site. If you file your comment on paper, write ‘‘Winchester, File No. 102 3171’’ on your comment and on the envelope, and mail or deliver it to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H–113 (Annex D), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580. If possible, submit your paper comment to the Commission by courier or overnight service. Visit the Commission Web site at https://www.ftc.gov to read this Notice and the news release describing it. The FTC Act and other laws that the Commission administers permit the collection of public comments to 1 In particular, the written request for confidential treatment that accompanies the comment must include the factual and legal basis for the request, and must identify the specific portions of the comment to be withheld from the public record. See FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c). E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM 01MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 41 (Thursday, March 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12588-12590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4998]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

[File No. 112 3005]


Long Fence & Home, LLLP; Analysis of Proposed Consent Order To 
Aid Public Comment

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Proposed consent agreement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged 
violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or 
practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to 
Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft 
complaint and the terms of the consent order--embodied in the consent 
agreement--that would settle these allegations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 23, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may file a comment online or on paper, by 
following the instructions in the Request for Comment part of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. Write ``Long Fence & Home, 
File No. 112 3005'' on your comment, and file your comment online at 
https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/longfencehomeconsent, by 
following the instructions on the web-based form. If you prefer to file 
your comment on paper, mail or deliver your comment to the following 
address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-113 
(Annex D), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James A. Kohm (202-326-2640) or Joshua 
S. Millard (202-326-2454), FTC, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 600 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 6(f) of the Federal 
Trade Commission Act, 38 Stat. 721, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and Sec.  2.34 the 
Commission Rules of Practice, 16 CFR 2.34, notice is hereby given that 
the above-captioned consent agreement containing a consent order to 
cease and desist, having been filed with and accepted, subject to final 
approval, by the Commission, has been placed on the public record for a 
period of thirty (30) days. The following Analysis to Aid Public 
Comment describes the terms of the consent agreement, and the 
allegations in the complaint. An electronic copy of the full text of 
the consent agreement package can be obtained from the FTC Home Page 
(for February 22, 2012), on the World Wide Web, at https://www.ftc.gov/os/actions.shtm. A paper copy can be obtained from the FTC Public 
Reference Room, Room 130-H, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20580, either in person or by calling (202) 326-2222.
    You can file a comment online or on paper. For the Commission to 
consider your comment, we must receive it on or before March 23, 2012. 
Write ALong Fence & Home, File No. 112 3005'' on your comment. Your 
comment B including your name and your state B will be placed on the 
public record of this proceeding, including, to the extent practicable, 
on the public Commission Web site, at https://www.ftc.gov/os/publiccomments.shtm. As a matter of discretion, the Commission tries to 
remove individuals' home contact information from comments before 
placing them on the Commission Web site.
    Because your comment will be made public, you are solely 
responsible for making sure that your comment does not include any 
sensitive personal information, like anyone's Social Security number, 
date of birth, driver's license number or other state

[[Page 12589]]

identification number or foreign country equivalent, passport number, 
financial account number, or credit or debit card number. You are also 
solely responsible for making sure that your comment does not include 
any sensitive health information, like medical records or other 
individually identifiable health information. In addition, do not 
include any ``[t]rade secret or any commercial or financial information 
which is obtained from any person and which is privileged or 
confidential,'' as provided in Section 6(f) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 
46(f), and FTC Rule 4.10(a)(2), 16 CFR 4.10(a)(2). In particular, do 
not include competitively sensitive information such as costs, sales 
statistics, inventories, formulas, patterns, devices, manufacturing 
processes, or customer names.
    If you want the Commission to give your comment confidential 
treatment, you must file it in paper form, with a request for 
confidential treatment, and you have to follow the procedure explained 
in FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).\1\ Your comment will be kept 
confidential only if the FTC General Counsel, in his or her sole 
discretion, grants your request in accordance with the law and the 
public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ In particular, the written request for confidential 
treatment that accompanies the comment must include the factual and 
legal basis for the request, and must identify the specific portions 
of the comment to be withheld from the public record. See FTC Rule 
4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Postal mail addressed to the Commission is subject to delay due to 
heightened security screening. As a result, we encourage you to submit 
your comments online. To make sure that the Commission considers your 
online comment, you must file it at https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/longfencehomeconsent by following the instructions on the web-based 
form. If this Notice appears at https://www.regulations.gov/#!home, you 
also may file a comment through that Web site.
    If you file your comment on paper, write ``Long Fence & Home, File 
No. 112 3005'' on your comment and on the envelope, and mail or deliver 
it to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the 
Secretary, Room H-113 (Annex D), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20580. If possible, submit your paper comment to the 
Commission by courier or overnight service.
    Visit the Commission Web site at https://www.ftc.gov to read this 
Notice and the news release describing it. The FTC Act and other laws 
that the Commission administers permit the collection of public 
comments to consider and use in this proceeding as appropriate. The 
Commission will consider all timely and responsive public comments that 
it receives on or before March 23, 2012. You can find more information, 
including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, in the 
Commission's privacy policy, at https://www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.htm.

Analysis of Agreement Containing Consent Order To Aid Public Comment

    The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') has 
accepted, subject to final approval, an agreement containing a consent 
order from Long Fence & Home, LLLP, a partnership (``respondent'').
    The proposed consent order has been placed on the public record for 
thirty (30) days for receipt of comments by interested persons. 
Comments received during this period will become part of the public 
record. After thirty (30) days, the Commission will again review the 
agreement and the comments received, and will decide whether it should 
withdraw from the agreement or make final the agreement's proposed 
order.
    This matter involves respondent's marketing and sale of replacement 
windows for use in residences. According to the FTC complaint, 
respondent represented that consumers who replace their windows with 
Long Windows' Quantum2 replacement windows with SuperPak Glass are 
likely to achieve residential energy savings of 50% or save 50% on 
residential heating and cooling costs. The complaint alleges that 
respondent did not possess and rely upon a reasonable basis 
substantiating these representations when it made them. Many factors 
determine the savings homeowners can realize by replacing their 
windows, including the home's geographic location, size, insulation 
package, and existing windows. Consumers who replace single or double-
paned wood or vinyl-framed windows--common residential window types in 
the United States--with LongWindows replacement windows are not likely 
to achieve a 50% reduction in residential energy consumption or heating 
and cooling costs. Thus, the complaint alleges that respondent engaged 
in unfair or deceptive practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the 
FTC Act.
    The proposed consent order contains two provisions designed to 
prevent respondent from engaging in similar acts and practices in the 
future. Part I addresses the marketing of windows. It prohibits 
respondent from making any representation that: (A) consumers who 
replace their windows with respondent's windows achieve up to or a 
specified amount or percentage of energy savings or reduction in 
heating and cooling costs; or (B) respondent guarantees or pledges that 
consumers who replace their windows with respondent's windows will 
achieve up to or a specified amount or percentage of energy savings or 
reduction in heating and cooling costs; unless the representation is 
non-misleading and, at the time of making such representation, 
respondent possesses and relies upon competent and reliable scientific 
evidence to substantiate that all or almost all consumers are likely to 
receive the maximum represented savings or reduction. Further, if 
respondent represents, guarantees, or pledges that consumers achieve 
such energy savings or heating and cooling cost reductions under 
specified circumstances, it must: disclose those circumstances clearly 
and prominently in close proximity to such representation, guarantee, 
or pledge; and substantiate that all or almost all consumers are likely 
to receive the maximum represented, guaranteed, or pledged savings or 
reduction under those circumstances (e.g., when replacing a window of a 
specific composition in a building having a specific level of 
insulation in a specific region). The performance standard imposed 
under this Part constitutes fencing-in relief reasonably necessary to 
ensure that any future energy savings or reduction claims are not 
deceptive.
    Part I of the order requires substantiation for representations 
including the words ``up to'' because the respondent may elect to make 
such representations in the future. The words ``up to'' do not 
effectively qualify representations regarding the energy savings or 
cost reductions likely to be achieved through replacement windows. 
Therefore, Part I requires the same level of substantiation regardless 
of whether the covered representation includes the words ``up to.'' The 
FTC's proposed consent order should not be interpreted as a general 
statement of how the Commission may interpret or take other action 
concerning representations including the words ``up to'' for other 
products or services in the future.
    Part II addresses any product or service for which respondent makes 
any energy-related efficacy representation. It prohibits respondent 
from making any representation: (A) That any specific number or 
percentage of consumers who replace their windows with respondent's 
windows achieve energy savings or reduction in heating and cooling 
costs; or (B) about energy consumption, energy savings, energy

[[Page 12590]]

costs, heating and cooling costs, U-factor, solar heat gain 
coefficient, R-value, K-value, insulating properties, thermal 
performance, or energy-related efficacy; unless the representation is 
non-misleading and substantiated by competent and reliable scientific 
evidence.
    Parts III though VI require respondent to: Keep copies of 
advertisements and materials relied upon in disseminating any 
representation covered by the order; provide copies of the order to 
certain personnel, agents, and representatives having responsibilities 
with respect to the subject matter of the order; notify the Commission 
of changes in its structure that might affect compliance obligations 
under the order; and file a compliance report with the Commission and 
respond to other requests from FTC staff. Part VII provides that the 
order will terminate after twenty (20) years under certain 
circumstances.
    The purpose of this analysis is to facilitate public comment on the 
proposed order. It is not intended to constitute an official 
interpretation of the complaint or the proposed order, or to modify the 
proposed order's terms in any way.

    By direction of the Commission, Commissioner Rosch abstaining.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-4998 Filed 2-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-P
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