Green Label Evaluation: Energy Star
Sponsoring Organization: Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy started in 1992.
Focus: Emphasis is on reduction of energy use in industrial and commercial products.
Commodities Covered: Energy Star certifies products in over 50 different categories.
Standards: EPA and the DOE have in-house product development teams that develop the Energy Star standards. The products they select and the standards they develop are guided by six principles:
- Significant energy savings will be realized on a national basis.
- Product energy consumption and performance and can be measured and verified with testing.
- Product performance will be maintained or enhanced.
- Purchasers of the product will recover any cost difference within a reasonable time period.
- Specifications do not unjustly favor any one technology.
- Labeling will effectively differentiate products to purchasers.
Once developed manufacturers can submit products for certification. Energy Star sets out testing standards and criteria, but the manufacturers does the testing and submits the results to Energy Star for certification. The products with characteristics are listed on the Energy Star website.
Reporting of Standards: Certified products can post the Energy Star logo on their products and advertising. All certified products are listed on the Energy Star site.
Use of Standards: A local government can use the standards
as a part of their bid standards, can require Energy Star certification, or
can use the certification as an evaluation criterion.