EPA's Energy Star program turns 15

By Jessica Boehland

In one of the federal government’s first actions aimed explicitly at combating global climate change, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started a voluntary program to encourage computer manufacturers to label their products with information about their energy use—and to recognize the most efficient models. The year was 1992, and the program was Energy Star.

Though it began with only computers and monitors, Energy Star quickly grew to include other office equipment in addition to residential heating and cooling equipment. In 1996, EPA partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which helped EPA bring Energy Star to a new swath of products. The program now includes more than 50 product categories—everything from dehumidifiers and dishwashers to vending machines and ground-source heat pumps.

Each Energy Star product category has its own set of criteria, established by EPA or DOE. Some criteria are based on federal efficiency standards: refrigerators, for example, must exceed the minimum efficiency standard by at least 15 percent. Others are based on conventional practice: qualified light bulbs (compact fluorescent lamps) use about a quarter the energy of the incandescent bulbs that dominate the market. EPA’s Maria Vargas says the program aims to recognize products that are not only energy efficient but also cost-effective and of high quality. “The idea is that you can have your cake and eat it too,” she says.

The program faces the continual challenge of keeping pace with evolving markets. Vargas says that, while EPA and DOE aim to recognize roughly the top 25 percent of each product category, finding the right balance “is sort of an art.” According to Jeffrey Harris, of the nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy, Energy Star can become the victim of its own success.  “There's little reason for manufacturers and suppliers to care—or for consumers to pay attention—if Energy Star becomes so popular that it reaches 80 or 90 percent market share, as has sometimes occurred,” he says. At the same time, the program has to avoid updating its criteria too frequently. “Industry will be reluctant to invest in product development or marketing efficiency products if they believe the goal post is constantly being moved,” notes Harris. As a result, “Energy Star can only be effective if it stays at the leading edge—but not the bleeding edge—of the market.”

Energy Star covers more than just individual products. In 1995, EPA launched Energy Star ratings for new homes. To earn the Energy Star label, a new home must be evaluated through the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) and be proven to use at least 15 percent less energy than a comparable home built in minimal compliance with the 2004 International Residential Code. More than 725,000 homes have earned the Energy Star. EPA is now working on a program to improve the efficiency of existing homes.

In 1999, EPA expanded Energy Star to recognize commercial buildings. To earn the label, a commercial building must score 75 or better—corresponding to the top 25th percentile—in EPA’s Portfolio Manager, a Web-based tool that compares the building’s energy use after at least one year of operation to that of a database of similar, existing projects. More than 3,200 commercial buildings have now earned the Energy Star label. In 2004, EPA began offering a “Designed to Earn the Energy Star” label for any building expected to meet Energy Star requirements upon completion.

In the 15 years since the birth of Energy Star, the program has grown in scope and in effectiveness. “A key strength is the long-term consistency of the message: that energy-efficient choices save money and at the same time help heal the planet,” says Harris. Another strength has been the federal government’s dedication to the program. As a result, Energy Star has earned a foothold in the American conscience: EPA says that 68 percent of the American public recognizes the Energy Star label. Since the program began, Americans have purchased more than two billion products adorned with the familiar logo, and in 2006 alone the program saved consumers $14 billion. According to Vargas, EPA hopes to double the annual savings over the next decade.

This article was produced by BuildingGreen, Inc.- www.buildinggreen.com

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