Energy Star
October 17, 2017
When purchasing new appliances or electronic equipment, consider looking beyond the price tag and thinking about total cost over the entire time you will have that item, including how much energy it will use. The Energy Star label can help you find equipment that will save you energy – and save you money over the long term.
Energy Star was created in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide product information on energy efficiency to help American homes and businesses save money and protect the environment. With an annual budget of $50 million in 2015, the Energy Star program saved consumers and businesses $34 billion. Since 1992, the program says it has on energy bills and has prevented 2.8 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Here are some more facts about Energy Star:
- Energy Star certified products including lighting, heating & cooling, electronics, appliances, water heaters, commercial food service equipment, office equipment, and more.
- Energy Star certified products generally use 20 to 30 percent less energy than what is required by federal standards.
- Energy Star certified commercial buildings use, on average, 35 percent less energy than comparable buildings.
- There are 1.7 million Energy Star certified new homes that are 15 to 30 percent more efficient than the average new home.
- There are more than 300 million Energy Star certified products as of 2015.
- More than $100 billion of Energy Star certified products have been sold.