Star billing

Clothes washers undergo Energy Star evaluation at Whirlpool Corp.'s Clyde, Ohio, manufacturing plant. The test panel measures total energy consumed including water usage, recently added to the Energy Star specifications.

Energy-efficient appliances save money on utility bills. An increasing number of consumers who want to get the most bang for their energy buck look for the Energy Star label. Energy Star identifies products that help protect the environment by using energy more efficiently. Buyers now search for the Energy Star label on products ranging from light bulbs to new homes. Many states support utility incentive programs promoting conservation via Energy Star-rated appliances. More than a billion Energy Star-qualified products have sold in the United States since the program began in 1992.

The Energy Star market is large. About 56% of consumers nationwide recognize the Star logo. Of those, 93% say they look for Energy Star qualified products. And the number of consumers who recognize the Energy Star label is growing. The label is influential in expanding the market for efficient products. Indications are that consumers given a choice between similar appliances commonly pick the one with an Energy Star rating.

The Energy Star program is jointly administered by the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with voluntary participation by manufacturers and retailers. Each agency oversees its own responsibilities within the Energy Star program. DOE manages criteria setting and promotion for the residential sector concentrating on appliances, windows, and compact fluorescent lights. EPA does the same for electronic goods, commercial equipment, buildings, and new homes.

Only Energy Star partners may use the Energy Star label on qualified products and advertising. Appliances awarded the Star logo typically fall within the top 25% efficiency rating for the industry. Buildings that meet high levels of energy efficiency and performance also get Energy Star approval.

As soon as Energy Star products reach 20% market penetration, DOE revisits the specifications for review and possible tightening. The process nudges manufacturers to create even more efficient products.

The creation and revision of Energy Star specifications is an ongoing process. DOE considers several criteria when determining whether to develop or modify specifications. Perhaps most obviously, DOE tries to decide if a new specification will save more energy nationally. There also has to be a way to measure and verify energy consumption. And energy efficiency can't come at the expense of product performance.

DOE develops Energy Star specifications through a systematic process that relies on rigorous marketing, engineering, and pollution analyses. Input from industry stakeholders plays a vital role in developing standards. Periodic reviews evaluate how relevant a specification is to current market conditions. DOE makes sure the resulting specifications differentiate the most efficient products based on performance. At the same time, the goal is to maintain a good selection of cost-effective models for buyers. This means Energy Star-compliant models at the low-end as well as premium models with all the bells and whistles.