ENERGY STAR

The Energy Star service mark is placed on energy-efficient

products.
Energy Star (trademarked ENERGY STAR) is an international standard for energy
efficient consumer products originated in the United States. It was created in 1992 by
the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. Since then, Australia, Canada,
Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union have adopted the program. Devices carrying
the Energy Star service mark, such as computer products and peripherals, kitchen appliances,
buildings and other products, generally use 2030% less energy than required by federal
standards. In the United States, the Energy Star label is also shown on EnergyGuide appliance label
of qualifying products.
History
The Energy Star program was developed by John S. Hoffman, inventor of the Green Programs at
EPA, working closely with the IT industry, and implemented by Cathy Zoi and Brian Johnson.
[5]
The
program was intended to be part of a series of voluntary programs, such as Green Lights and the
Methane Programs, that would demonstrate the potential for profit in reducing energy consumption
and greenhouse gases by power plants.
Initiated as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy efficient products,
Energy Star began with labels for computer and printer products. In 1995 the program was
significantly expanded, introducing labels for residential heating and cooling systems and new
homes. As of 2006, more than 40,000 Energy Star products were available in a wide range of items
including major appliances, office equipment, lighting, home electronics, and more. In addition, the
label can also be found on new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. In 2006, about 12
percent of new housing in the United was labeled Energy Star.
The EPA estimates that it saved about $14 billion in energy costs in 2006 alone. The Energy Star
program has helped spread the use of LED traffic lights, efficient fluorescent lighting, power
management systems for office equipment, and low standby energy use.
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In 2008, the EPA announced the Green Power Partnership program, which was designed to help
achieve its goal of encouraging the use of renewable power sources. The renewable energy credits
(REC) allow companies without direct access to renewable power the ability to achieve their goals.
However, to avoid companies buying RECs years in advance of any of the hypothetical power ever
being produced, RECs are only accepted into the program when the actual equivalent renewable
power will be produced.
Specifications
Energy Star specifications differ with each item, and are set by either the Environmental Protection
Agency or the Department of Energy. The following highlights product and specification information
available on the Energy Star website.
Computers
Energy Star 4.0 specifications for computers became effective on July 20, 2007. The requirements
are more stringent than the previous specification and existing equipment designs can no longer use
the service mark unless re-qualified. They require the use of 80 Plus Bronze level or higher power
supplies. Energy Star 5.0 became effective on July 1, 2009.
Servers
The EPA released Version 1.0 of the Computer Server specifications on May 15, 2009. It covers
standalone servers with one to four processor sockets. A second tier to the specification adding
active state power and performance reporting for all qualified servers, as well as blade and multi-
node server idle state requirements is expected in 2013.
Appliances
As of early 2008, average refrigerators need 20% savings over the minimum standard. Dishwashers
need at least 41% savings. Most appliances as well as heating and cooling systems have a yellow
EnergyGuide label showing the annual cost of operation compared to other models. This label is
created through the Federal Trade Commission and often shows if an appliance is Energy
Star. While an Energy Star label indicates that the appliance is more energy efficient than the
minimum guidelines, purchasing an Energy Star labeled product does not always mean one is
getting the most energy efficient option available. For example, dehumidifiers that are rated under 25
US pints (12 L) per day of water extraction receive an Energy Star rating if they have an energy
factor of 1.2 (higher is better), while those rated 25 US pints (12 L) to 35 US pints (17 L) per day
receive an Energy Star rating for an energy factor of 1.4 or higher. Thus a higher-capacity but non-
Energy Star rated dehumidifier may be a more energy efficient alternative than an Energy Star rated
but lower-capacity model. The Energy Star program's savings calculator has also been criticized for
unrealistic assumptions in its model that tend to magnify savings benefits to the average consumer.
Another factor yet to be considered by the EPA and DOE is the overall effect of energy-saving
requirements on the durability and expected service life of a mass-market appliance built to a
consumer-level cost standard. For example, a refrigerator may be made more efficient by the use of
more insulative spacing and a smaller-capacity compressor using electronics to control operation
and temperature. However, this may come at the cost of reduced interior storage (or increased
exterior mass) or a reduced service life due to compressor or electronic failures. In particular,
electronic controls used on new-generation appliances are subject to damage from shock, vibration,
moisture, or power spikes on the electrical circuit to which they are attached. Critics have pointed out
that even if a new appliance is energy efficient, any consumer appliance that does not provide
customer satisfaction, or must be replaced twice as often as its predecessor contributes to landfill
pollution and waste of natural resources used to construct its replacement.
Heating and cooling systems
Energy Star qualified heat pumps, boilers, air conditioning systems, and furnaces are available. In
addition, cooling and heating bills can be significantly lowered with air sealing and duct sealing. Air
sealing reduces the outdoor air that penetrates a building, and duct sealing prevents attic or
basement air from entering ducts and lessening the heating/cooling systems efficiency. Energy Star
qualified room air conditioners are at least 10% more energy efficient than the minimum U.S. federal
government standards.
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Home electronics
Energy Star qualified television, use 30% less energy than average. In November 2008, television
specifications were improved to limit on-mode power use, in addition to standby power which is
limited by the current specifications. A wider range of Energy Star qualified televisions will be
available. Other qualified home electronics include cordless phones, battery chargers, VCRs and
external power adapters, most of which use 90% less energy.
Imaging equipment
The Energy Star Program Requirements for Imaging Products are focused on product families such
as electrophotographic (EP) printers, inkjet printers (e.g., thermal), copiers, facsimile machines and
other imaging equipment including MFD's (multifunctional devices). Typical Electrical Consumption
(TEC) of a product family are measured and reported against an allowance set by the maximum
throughput of the device. Operation modes (OM) are measured and reported for devices such as
inkjet products against an allowance set by the functions present in the EUT (equipment under test).
Devices that included "adders" such as Ethernet, on-board memory, wireless, etc. are
mathematically "added" to increase the OM allowance. Recently on February 1, 2011, the EPA/DOE
added the requirement that all products registered under the Energy Star service mark, must be
tested by an AB (Accredited Body) or CB (Certification Body) Laboratory.
Lighting
The Energy Star is awarded to only certain bulbs that meet strict efficiency, quality, and lifetime
criteria.
Energy Star qualified fluorescent lighting uses 75% less energy and lasts up to ten times longer than
normal incandescent lights.
Energy Star Qualified light-emitting diode (LED) Lighting:
Reduces energy costs uses at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting, saving on
operating expenses.
Reduces maintenance costs lasts 35 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting and about
2 to 5 times longer than fluorescent lighting. No bulb-replacements, no ladders, no ongoing
disposal program.
Reduces cooling costs LEDs produce very little heat.
To qualify for Energy Star certification, LED lighting products must pass a variety of tests to prove
that the products will display the following characteristics:
Brightness is equal to or greater than existing lighting technologies (incandescent or fluorescent)
and light is well distributed over the area lighted by the fixture.
Light output remains constant over time, only decreasing towards the end of the rated lifetime (at
least 35,000 hours or 12 years based on use of 8 hours per day).
Excellent color quality. The shade of white light appears clear and consistent over time.
Efficiency is as good as or better than fluorescent lighting.
Light comes on instantly when turned on.
No flicker when dimmed.
No off-state power draw. The fixture does not use power when it is turned off, with the exception
of external controls, whose power should not exceed 0.5 watts in the off state.
New homes
New homes that meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency can qualify for Energy Star certification.
An Energy Star qualified home uses at least 15% less energy than standard homes built to the 2003
International Residential Code (IRC). They usually include properly installed insulation, high
performance windows, tight construction and ducts, energy efficient cooling and heating systems,
and Energy Star qualified appliances, lighting, and water heaters.
Energy performance ratings
The U.S. EPA's Energy Star program has developed energy performance rating systems for several
commercial and institutional building types and manufacturing facilities. These ratings, on a scale of
1 to 100, provide a means for benchmarking the energy efficiency of specific buildings and industrial
plants against the energy performance of similar facilities. The ratings are used by building and
energy managers to evaluate the energy performance of existing buildings and industrial plants. The
rating systems are also used by EPA to determine if a building or plant can qualify to earn Energy
Star recognition.
For many types of commercial buildings, one can enter energy information into EPA's free online
tool, Portfolio Manager, and it will calculate a score for one's building on a scale of 1-100. Buildings
that score a 75 or greater may qualify for the Energy Star. Portfolio Manager is an interactive energy
management tool that allows one to track and assess energy and water consumption across one's
entire portfolio of buildings in a secure online environment. Whether one owns, manages, or holds
properties for investment, Portfolio Manager can help one set investment priorities, identify under-
performing buildings, verify efficiency improvements, and receive EPA recognition for superior
energy performance. Portfolio Manager uses an automated benchmarking tool that can award
Energy Star certification to buildings that have uploaded 12 months of consecutive energy usage
data and received scores of 75 or above.
Buildings
The number of space types that can receive the energy performance rating in Portfolio Manager is
expanding and now includes bank/financial institutions, courthouses, hospitals (acute care and
children's), hotels and motels, houses of worship, K-12 schools, medical offices, offices, residence
halls/dormitories, retail stores, supermarkets, warehouses (refrigerated and non-refrigerated), data
centers, senior care facilities, and wastewater facilities.
See the technical descriptions for models used in the rating system at. These documents provide
detailed information on the methodologies used to create the energy performance ratings including
details on rating objectives, regression techniques, and the steps applied to compute a rating. A 1-
100 rating can be generated for ratable space types by entering building attributes, such as square
footage and weekly operating hours, and monthly energy consumption data into Portfolio Manager, a
free online tool provided by Energy Star. This process is known as benchmarking and reveals how a
building's energy consumption compares to that of other similar buildings of the same space type,
based on a national average. Earning a rating of 75 or above is the first step towards achieving the
Energy Star for a building.
Energy Star energy performance ratings have been incorporated into some green buildings
standards, such as LEED for Existing Buildings.
Energy Conservation Building Code - India
Industrial facilities
Energy performance ratings have been released for the following industrial facilities:
Automobile assembly plants, cement plants, wet corn mills, container glass manufacturing, flat
glass manufacturing, frozen fried potato processing plants, juice processing, petroleum refineries,
and pharmaceutical manufacturing plants.
Other facilities
Municipal wastewater treatment plants
Small business award
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annually recognizes small businesses that
demonstrate abilities to reduce waste, conserve energy, and recycle. The businesses use resources
and ideas outlined in the Energy Star program. The award was established in 1999.
Controversies
On December 17, 2008, the EPA Office of the Inspector General released its report on the Energy
Star program. The Inspector General's audit found that the program's claims regarding greenhouse
gas reductions were inaccurate and based on faulty data. Additionally, the IG found that Energy Star
program's reported energy savings were unreliable, and that many of the touted benefits could not
be verified. "Deficiencies included the lack of a quality review of the data collected; reliance on
estimates, forecasting, and unverified third party reporting; and the potential inclusion of exported
items," the report concluded.
Additionally, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Consumer Reports, and the
trade website ApplianceAdvisor.com, have released statements claiming that Energy Star test
procedures contained loopholes that allow many inefficient products to receive Energy Star labels.
Specific claims include:
U.S. Department of Energy regulations allowed the manufacturers to test the refrigerators with
their ice-makers turned off, which is not how they are normally used in the home. However, the
Energy Star requirements usually exclude refrigerators that include an ice maker because of the
penetration of the ice dispenser. Some designs get around this by dispensing the ice into a tray
located in the freezer.
Using outdated testing rules and loose standards to award Energy Star ratings.
The program allows manufacturers to test their own products and only selectively spot-checks
the test results they submit.
There are so many individually rated refrigerator categories that even inefficient product
categories (such as side-by-sides) are certified.
Before the complaints were raised in 2008, 2006 federal court had required the DOE to update and
tighten misleading Energy Star ratings given to products in almost two dozen categories, including
dishwashers, air conditioners, heaters, furnaces and clothes dryers. The updates were to settle
complaints by 14 states. However, categories such as room air conditioners and clothes dryers
would not be completed until June 2011.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had released reports in 2007 and 2008 claiming Energy
Star labels were misleading. Inspector general issued a report that said Energy Star's savings claims
were "not accurate or verifiable." The report also found that shipment data for Energy Star products
were not being adequately reviewed and in some cases, were based on estimates instead of actual
shipping totals.
Martin Hellman revealed that Energy Star standby mode requirement can be compromised when an
electronic device uses Download Acquisition Mode (DAM) feature to update TV Guide listing during
standby mode. Hellman first found the feature on Sony KDL-37XBR6.
In March 2010, a report by the Government Accountability Office stated that the Energy Star
program had accepted 15 out of 20 bogus products submitted for approval. The Energy Star
program had also qualified four businesses as Energy Star partners, failing to catch the fact that
information on the companies, products and staff were all fictitious.
Testing Vendors
MET Laboratories, Inc.
TV Rheinland Group
EMSCAN Corp.
Adoption in building codes
The current and projected status of energy codes and standards adoption is show in the maps at the
link.
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The following cities have mandatory reporting requirements.
Austin, TX,
Boston, MA
Minneapolis, MN
New York, NY,
Philadelphia, PA
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA,
Washington, District of Columbia
See also
Bureau of Energy Efficiency India
Electronic waste
EnerWorks
European Union energy label
Green computing
Green energy
House Energy Rating (Australia)
Miscellaneous electric load
NTA Inc Home Energy Rater
One Watt Initiative
Plug load
Power management
TCO Certification
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Weatherization
New Zealand Green Building Council