In 1992, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Energy Star program to promote energy efficiency and labeling. Several countries have since adopted the program; they maintain industry standards for consumption and compliance. Energy Star certification informs the market that your product is efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly.
ENERGY STAR® is a voluntary, government-backed energy-efficiency program administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Launched in 1992, it helps consumers and businesses identify energy-efficient products, homes, buildings and industrial facilities. Canada joined the program as an international partner in 2001.
This is supported by EPA and Natural Resources Canada.
Energy Star helps facilitate third-party product certification. It has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy to provide coherent and cohesive standards. Energy Star programs help save billions of kilowatt-hours annually.
Certified products demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship. An Energy Star label on your product shows compliance with efficiency and performance requirements.
Each product belongs to a product category. For a product to qualify, it should meet performance requirements according to that category. Energy Star (and other organizations) provide the testing methods. Channels for reporting your results are also available.
Canada has participated in ENERGY STAR since 2001. Natural Resources Canada administers ENERGY STAR Canada and works with the EPA to align technical specifications for products available in the Canadian market. More than 80 types of products are currently eligible for ENERGY STAR certification in Canada.
With this in mind, dozens of products qualify for Energy Star certification and span several product categories. The categories cover many demands across different market sectors. Target products are often high-drain devices: those designs that are prone to high losses. These devices benefit the most from regulation.
Product Category | Sample Products |
|---|---|
Appliances | Clothes Washers and Dryers Dishwashers Household Refrigerators |
Building Products | Windows and Doors Skylights Sealing, Caulk, and Insulation |
Commercial Food Service Equipment | Refrigerators and Freezers Fryers, Ovens, and Griddles Coffee Brewers Icemakers |
Data Center Equipment | Enterprise Servers Data Storage Uninterruptible Power Supplies |
Electronics and Office Equipment | Audio/Video Units Computers and Game Consoles Televisions and Displays Imaging Equipment |
Heating and Cooling | Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Boilers and Water Heaters Furnaces and Thermostats Air Purifiers and Dehumidifiers |
Lighting and Fans | Ceiling and Vent Fans Lamps and Light Fixtures Decorative Light Strings |
Other | Laboratory Grade Cooling Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Smart Home Energy Management Systems |
Each category is handled separately according to its Energy Star Partner Commitments. While each product retains its focus on energy efficiency, specific implementations will vary. For example:
The servers and data center storage programs describe the requirements for different computing products. Parameters include power, performance, and efficiency. Notably, these programs comprise separate product classes for Energy Star certification purposes. On the other hand, the European Union considers them together under Regulation (EU) 2019/424.
Televisions and electronic displays have seen several revisions to their certification requirements. Better technology and expanded applications have made displays among the most popular products worldwide. The European Union also combines these categories, in this case under Regulation (EU) 2019/2021.
A manufacturer generally needs to:
EPA confirms that products must be independently tested and certified and may be subject to post-market verification. EPA certification process
In a nutshell, it is a government-backed labeling program aiming to help people and businesses save energy.
In doing so, the initiative has established energy-efficient guidelines for households and companies looking to conserve energy.
Additionally, Energy Star enables more energy-efficient products. Today, you can find this label on over 75 certified product categories. Examples are:
While the first goal of Energy Star is improving energy efficiency, this mandate also fits the global framework: the circular economy. Certifications and regulations can impact global markets in significant ways. For example, production methods tend to change alongside amendments to EU ecodesign directives and RoHS / REACH guidelines.
ENERGY STAR specifications and test methods may be revised. Manufacturers should monitor changes affecting their product categories and participate in required verification testing. EPA also conducts post-market testing and audits the use of the ENERGY STAR mark.
Do you have a product that is eligible for Energy Star certification? Contact Enviropass and align yourself with a world leader in energy efficiency.
