What Is ENERGY STAR and Why it Should Matter to You?
Every little penny counts! That’s why the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® program became the “most successful voluntary energy efficiency movement in history.”1 The ENERGY STAR® program highlights energy efficient products that have been certified to use less energy than their standard counterpart products. The idea is that when homeowners purchase ENERGY STAR® certified products, they can save money on energy costs.
When your home’s heating and cooling can account for up to 42% of your energy bill, purchasing ENERGY STAR® certified products to use less energy may help you keep more of your hard-earned dollars.2
ENERGY STAR® Certification
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires all
ENERGY STAR® products to be third-party certified. Products are tested in an EPA-recognized laboratory and reviewed by an EPA-recognized certification body prior to being
ENERGY STAR® certified.
3 ENERGY STAR® heating and cooling products must be proven to save energy without sacrificing features or functionality.
In order to become an
ENERGY STAR® partner, organizations enter into a formal agreement with the EPA. “As a partner in the program, organizations agree to abide by the
ENERGY STAR® program identity guidelines to ensure proper use of the logo.”
4 This partnership can provide homeowners with confidence that the product they are purchasing uses less energy than other products in that category.
In addition to up-front testing,
ENERGY STAR® products can also be subject to "off–the–shelf" verification testing each year. These checks ensure that manufacturing process changes or variations don’t undermine an
ENERGY STAR® product's qualification.
5 In 2015, 97% of the 1,789 models that underwent verification testing met energy-saving expectations.
6
Why Choose an ENERGY STAR® Product?
The
ENERGY STAR® program, which was introduced in 1992, applies to products in more than 70 categories. When compared to the standard product model in the same category,
ENERGY STAR® certified products:
- Have higher energy-efficiency ratings
- Cost less money to operate
- Are better for the environment
You can assess your home’s annual energy use compared to similar homes by using the EPA's Home Energy Yardstick.
7 With the Home Energy Yardstick, you can get:
- Your home's energy use score
- Insights into how much of your home's energy use is related to heating and cooling versus other everyday uses like appliances, lighting, and hot water
- Links to guidance from ENERGY STAR® on how to increase your home's score, improve comfort, and lower utility bills
- An estimate of your home's annual carbon emissions
1 The ENERGY STAR® Story. (n.d.). Retrieved from Energystar.gov: https://www.energystar.gov/about
2 Third-Party Certification. (n.d.). Retrieved from ENERGY STAR®: https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=third_party_certification.tpc_index
3 Where Does My Money Go? (n.d.). Retrieved from Energystar.gov: https://www.energystar.gov/products/where_does_my_money_go
4 Maintaining the Integrity of ENERGY STAR®. (n.d.). Retrieved from Energystar.gov: https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=partners.pt_es_integrity
5 Origins and Mission. (n.d.). Retrieved from Energystar.gov: https://www.energystar.gov/about/origins_mission
6 ENERGY STAR® Labeled Products: 2015 Verification Testing. (n.d.). Retrieved from Energystar.gov: https://www.energystar.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/2015_Verification_Testing_Summary_0.pdf
7 Home Energy Yardstick. (n.d.). Retrieved from Energystar.gov: https://portfoliomanager.energystar.gov/pm/hey#:~:text=EPA's%20Home%20Energy%20Yardstick%20(HEY,average%20home%20scoring%2050)%3B