ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2006 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars — all while saving $14 billion on their utility bills.
For The Home
Energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. ENERGY STAR helps you make the energy efficient choice.
- If looking for new household products, look for ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR. They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy.
- If looking for a new home, look for one that has earned the ENERGY STAR.
- If looking to make larger improvements to your home, EPA offers tools and resources to help you plan and undertake projects to reduce your energy bills and improve home comfort.
History of ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
In 1992 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced ENERGY STAR as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Computers and monitors were the first labeled products. Through 1995, EPA expanded the label to additional office equipment products and residential heating and cooling equipment. In 1996, EPA partnered with the US Department of Energy for particular product categories. The ENERGY STAR label is now on major appliances, office equipment, lighting, home electronics, and more. EPA has also extended the label to cover new homes and commercial and industrial buildings.
Through its partnerships with more than 9,000 private and public sector organizations, ENERGY STAR delivers the technical information and tools that organizations and consumers need to choose energy-efficient solutions and best management practices. ENERGY STAR has successfully delivered energy and cost savings across the country, saving businesses, organizations, and consumers about $14 billion in 2006 alone. Over the past decade, ENERGY STAR has been a driving force behind the more widespread use of such technological innovations as LED traffic lights, efficient fluorescent lighting, power management systems for office equipment, and low standby energy use.
Recently, energy prices have become a hot news topic and a major concern for consumers. ENERGY STAR provides solutions. ENERGY STAR provides a trustworthy label on over 50 product categories (and thousands of models) for the home and office. These products deliver the same or better performance as comparable models while using less energy and saving money. ENERGY STAR also provides easy-to-use home and building assessment tools so that homeowners and building managers can start down the path to greater efficiency and cost savings.
ENERGY STAR in the news
Analyze your home's energy use
Appliances
Refrigerators, Washers and Dryers, Dishwashers, Dehumidifiers, AC Units, Ceiling Fans, Ventilating Fans
Did you know that the average home spends about $1,900 on energy costs every year? Change to appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR, and you can save $80 a year in energy costs, while saving the environment.
Save Energy, Save Money
When buying an appliance, remember that it has two price tags: what you pay to take it home and what you pay for the energy and water it uses. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10–50% less energy and water than standard models. The money you save on your utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but more efficient ENERGY STAR model.
Help Protect the Environment
Simple actions can make a big difference. If just one in 10 homes used ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, the change would be like planting 1.7 million new acres of trees.
For top performance, premium features, and energy savings, look for energy-efficient clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, room air conditioners and dehumidifiers that have earned the ENERGY STAR. This mark may appear on the appliance, the packaging or the EnergyGuide label.
Refrigerators
ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators require about half as much energy as models manufactured before 1993. ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators provide energy savings without sacrificing the features you want.
- ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use high efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to improve energy efficiency.
- ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use at least 15% less energy than required by current federal standards and 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001.
- Many ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models include automatic ice-maker and through-the-door ice dispensers. Qualified models are also available with top, bottom, and side-by-side freezers.
- ENERGY STAR qualified freezer models use at least 10% less energy than required by current federal standards. Qualified freezer models are available in three configurations: upright freezers with automatic defrost, upright freezers with manual defrost, chest freezers with manual defrost only.
- ENERGY STAR compact refrigerators and freezers use at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards. Compacts are models with volumes less than 7.75 cubic feet.
Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. In most households, the refrigerator is the single biggest energy consuming kitchen appliance. Replacing a refrigerator bought in 1990 with a new ENERGY STAR qualified model would save enough energy to light the average household for nearly four months.
Find out how much your old refrigerator is costing you!
Refrigerator Models
Bottom Freezers
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Price Range: $850-$1,600
Side By Side
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Price Range: $800-$1,700
Top Freezer
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Price Range: $530-$1,250
Bottom Freezer/French Door
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Price Range: $1,300-$2,800
Compact Refrigerators
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Price Range: $130-$950
Washers and Dryers
Compared to a model manufactured before 1994, an ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer can save up to $110 per year on your utility bills.
Earning the ENERGY STAR means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy.
- Through superior design and system features, ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers clean clothes using 50% less energy than standard washers. The Modified Energy Factor (MEF) measures the energy used during the washing process, including machine energy, water heating energy, and dryer energy. The higher the MEF, the more efficient the clothes washer is.
- Most full-sized ENERGY STAR qualified washers use 18-25 gallons of water per load, compared to the 40 gallons used by a standard machine. The Water Factor measures the gallons of water used per cycle per cubic foot (for example, a 3.0 cubic foot washer using 27 gallons per cycle has a water factor of 9.0). The lower the water factor, the less water the machine uses.
- Most ENERGY STAR qualified washers extract more water from clothes during the spin cycle. This reduces the drying time and saves energy and wear and tear on your clothes.
- ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers are available in both top-loading and front-loading designs..
- ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers are available as both residential and residential-style commercial clothes washers. Residential-style commercial clothes washers may or may not be coin-operated.
You may also be interested to know that you can save extra energy while washing clothes, whether with a standard or an ENERGY STAR qualified model by washing your clothes in cold water and washing full loads – clothes washers are most efficient when operated with full loads.
Washer and Dryer Models
Front Load Washers
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Price Range: $600-$1,600
Top Load Washers
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Price Range: $350-$1,050
Washer/Dryer Combo
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Price Range: $600-$1,500
Dishwashers
Replacing a dishwasher manufactured before 1994 with an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher can save you more than $30 a year in utility costs.
Earning the ENERGY STAR means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy.
- ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers use at least 41 percent less energy than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption.
- ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers use much less water than conventional models. Saving water helps protect our nation's water supplies.
- Because they use less hot water compared to new conventional models, an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher saves about $90 over its lifetime.
You may also be interested to know that you can save extra energy while washing dishes, whether with a standard or an ENERGY STAR model:
- Run your dishwasher with a full load. Most of the energy used by a dishwasher goes to heat water. Since you can't decrease the amount of water used per cycle, fill your dishwasher to get the most from the energy used to run it.
- Avoid using the heat-dry, rinse-hold and pre-rinse features. Instead use your dishwasher's air-dry option.
Dishwasher Models
Built-in
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Price Range: $200-$1,400
Portables
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Price Range: $350-$970
Dehumidifiers
A 40-pint ENERGY STAR qualified dehumidifier can save consumers roughly $20 per year. This can add up to $200 or more over the life of the unit. That's enough to pay for the dehumidifier!
Earning the ENERGY STAR means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
- ENERGY STAR qualified models have more efficient refrigeration coils, compressors, and fans than conventional models, which means they use less energy to remove moisture.
- An ENERGY STAR qualified model removes the same amount of moisture as a similarly-sized standard unit, but uses 10-20 percent less energy. In fact, the energy saved by an ENERGY STAR qualified dehumidifier could power your refrigerator for 6 months!
- You can calculate specific energy and money savings by using the dehumidifer calculator available on Myenergystar.com, the ENERGY STAR Northeast Web site.
In addition to energy performance, there are many other important operating and convenience features to consider when shopping for dehumidifiers:
Dehumidifer Basics
How Do I Know If I Need a Dehumidifier?
Dehumidifier Models
Portables
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Price Range: $120-$1,500
AC Units
About one-seventh of all the electricity generated in the US is used to air condition buildings.*
Earning the ENERGY STAR means products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
- ENERGY STAR qualified central air conditioners have a higher seasonal efficiency rating (SEER) than standard models, which makes them about 8% more efficient.
Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. By choosing ENERGY STAR and taking steps to optimize the performance of your cooling equipment, you are helping to prevent global warming and promoting cleaner air while enhancing the comfort of your home.
Finding Qualified Equipment
The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) and the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) have developed an online database which can be used to find qualifying ENERGY STAR equipment. All equipment listed in this online database meets the specification requirements for ENERGY STAR. This online database is solely maintained and operated by CEE and ARI.
Find a Contractor
The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) online Contractor Locator includes a special designation to identify contractors who sell and are knowledgeable about ENERGY STAR qualified HVAC equipment. ACCA is a non-profit association whose goal is to help the best Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) contractors serve their customers. Look for the “Ask About ENERGY STAR” logo in the contractor search results. Please note that these contractors are not certified, endorsed, or otherwise approved by the U.S. EPA.
Source: Annual Energy Outlook 2007 Report #:DOE/EIA-0383(2007)
AC Unit Models
Thru Wall
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AJ Madison
Price Range: $150-$570
Window
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Price Range: $150-$570
Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fan/light combination units that have earned the ENERGY STAR are about 50% more efficient than conventional fan/light units. This can save you $15-$20 per year on utility bills, plus any additional air conditioning or heating savings you may gain when your fan is operated properly.
Earning the ENERGY STAR
While ENERGY STAR qualified ceiling fans use improved motors and blade designs, you can dramatically increase your savings with ENERGY STAR qualified lighting. If your fan doesn't include lighting, be sure to purchase an ENERGY STAR qualified light kit. This lighting is efficient and long lasting, so you won't have to make frequent bulb changes.
To save energy while using a ceiling fan, whether with a standard or an ENERGY STAR model, (use the following tips): Ceiling Fan Installation and Usage Tips
Want to improve your heating and cooling performance at home? ENERGY STAR can help you improve your home.
What Else Should I Look for When Shopping for Ceiling Fans?
In addition to the ENERGY STAR label there are a number of other items to consider when purchasing and installing a new ceiling fan: Ceiling Fan Basics
Ceiling Fan Performance: Components that Count
Ceiling Fan Accessories and Purchasing Choices
Ceiling Fan Models
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Price Range: $90-$370
Ventilating Fans
ENERGY STAR qualified kitchen range hoods, bathroom and utility fans, and inline fans provide energy savings and are significantly quieter than standard models.
Earning the ENERGY STAR means products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
- ENERGY STAR qualified ventilation fans that include lighting use 65% less energy on average than standard models, saving $120 in electricity costs over the life of the fan.
- These fans are more than 50% quieter than standard models.
- They feature high performance motors and improved blade design, providing better performance and longer life.
News for Homeowners
ENERGY STAR ventilation fans with lighting qualify as part of the ENERGY STAR Advanced Lighting Package. The ALP is a construction option that upgrades fixtures commonly used in the home with quality, high efficiency ENERGY STAR qualified models.
Qualified models can be found at many large home improvement stores or from your HVAC or electrical contractor. Locate a store near you.
Installing adequate ventilation helps to alleviate many common household problems. It helps to control moisture and remove objectionable odors. Since ENERGY STAR fans use less energy and are quieter than standard models, they are much more likely to be used to keep your home healthy.
Ventilating Fan Models
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Price Range: $100-$430
Source: www.energystar.gov
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