Energy Star – Promoting Energy Conservation

The Energy Star program, currently covering over 50 product categories, was started by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992. As currently positioned in the market, the Energy Star label highlights those products that are more energy efficient than other products in the same category. Most commonly found on appliances, the label can now be found on roofing materials and air quality products. Recently the EPA has extended the label to cover new residences, commercial buildings, and other structures.

According to the Department of Energy, the Energy Star program has directed consumers to products that have:

• Saved enough energy to provide power to over 10 million homes,
• Eliminated GHG emissions equivalent to 12 million cars, and
• Saved $6 billion.

The initial outlay to convert a product to meet the requirements of the Energy Star program can be high, thus equating to a higher price for the consumer. But, the energy saving aspect of the program allows for recovery of these costs either through lower utility bills or government rebates.

Energy Star Program – Key to Energy Conservation

At its core, the Energy Star program was created to encourage the manufacturing of energy efficient products, with the sole objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, passed in 1975, established minimum energy efficiency standards for major appliances. However, the EPA advanced the concept by establishing, through this program, a way for consumers to easily discern energy efficient products.

Initially designed for computers and monitors, the program steadily expanded in its first 3 years, to include other office equipment and heating and cooling equipment. In 1996, the EPA joined forces with the Department of Energy (DOE), rapidly expanding its scope to a full array of home appliances and other consumer applications. In short, the average consumer knows that the Energy Star label means lower utility bills, creating the necessary incentive for manufacturers to apply technology in producing a more energy efficient product.

Energy Star Program Requirements

The Energy Star label signifies that a product has been tested to DOE standard procedures and met pre-specified criteria. Included on the label is the:

• Amount of energy the product will use, and
• Annual operating costs.

The categories of products addressed by this program include:

• Appliances: Clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and room air conditioners.
• Heating and Cooling: Central air conditioners, furnaces and programmable thermostats.
• Home: Windows, roofing materials and insulation
• Electronics: Televisions, DVD players, and audio systems.
• Office Equipment: Computers, monitors, photocopiers and printers.
• Lighting: Fixtures and bulbs.
• Commercial Products: Signage, vending machines and water coolers.

Energy Star Homes

Any new home with fewer than 3 stories can receive the Energy Star label if it is at least 15 percent more efficient that the 2004 International Residential Code. This requires meeting guidelines for insulation, windows, ducts, heating and cooling equipment, and appliances, all of which requires third-party verification. Then, provided a home can meet 60 additional home design and construction standards that improve indoor air quality, it can also qualify for the Energy Star Indoor Air Package.

Even if a home is not new, there are still actions homeowners can take that will improve energy efficiency:

• According to Energy Star, sealing attic and basement air leaks (including duct work) and adding attic insulation is the most cost-effective way to cut energy costs.
• Home Energy systems, connecting to a device or appliance, assist in reducing energy consumption by providing real-time feedback on the amount of energy used.

In estimating the value of the Energy Star label to a typical homeowner, consider the following annual savings:

• Refrigerator: $4
• Dishwasher: $8
• Clothes Washer: $41
• Programmable Thermostat: $100

It is now wonder that programmable thermostats have become a cornerstone to may energy efficiency programs. And, as for the other appliances, the Energy Star label may not equate to significant cost savings, but it does assist the homeowner in selecting a high quality product that is consistent with society’s focus on going green.