Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. It is a voluntary labeling system designed to identify and promote products that meet strict energy efficiency standards.

TYPES
Energy Star qualified products range across several categories:

• Appliances - This can include clothes washers, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, refrigerators and room air conditioners (AC). Energy Star qualified appliances incorporate technologies that use 10-50% less energy and water than standard models.

• Heating & cooling - Includes central AC, boilers, furnaces, fans, and heat pumps. Replacing old heating and cooling equipment with Energy Star qualified equipment can cut annual energy bills by nearly $200.

• Insulation (windows, doors, & skylights) and roof products - Insulating a home according to Energy Star standards and installing Energy Star qualified windows can help reduce energy bills up to 15%.

• Home electronics - Includes cordless phones and televisions. Products that have earned the Energy Star label use less energy in "standby" mode then conventional models while providing the same performance.

• Office equipment - Includes computers, copiers and fax machines, monitors, and printers. Products sold with an external power adapter, cordless handset, or digital front-end must have accessories which meet Energy Star specifications for External Power Supplies (EPS). These requirements ensure that the Energy Star label is represented only on the market's most energy-efficient products.

• Lighting - Includes light bulbs and light fixtures. Energy Star is a proponent of the energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb (CFL), which uses 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs.1

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
In 2006, Americans saved about $14 billion on their utility bills by becoming more energy efficient. The savings were achieved across the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, and equated to almost 5 % of the total 2006 U.S. electricity demand, and 35 gigawatts (GW) of peak power, which is the equivalent to the generation capacity of more than avoided 37 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.2

BENEFITS
Energy Star provides a commonly accepted approval system for consumers to understand energy use of appliances and electronics.

DISADVANTAGES
The process by which Energy Star evaluates products to be considered for approval has come under public scrutiny. It has been claimed that the evaluation process is too lenient and the number of Energy Star approved products has increased beyond the EPA's desired levels.

VALLEY ACCESS POTENTIAL
Energy Star approved products are endorsed by Flex Your Power, California's statewide energy efficiency marketing and outreach campaign. California utilities offer rebates to customers who purchase Energy Star qualified appliances. Labeled products are available at retailers around the Valley.

For more information on local government best practices in energy efficiency visit the California Climate Action Network www.ca-ilg.org/climatechange or the Alliance to Save Energy at www.ASE.org.

1 Energy Star: www.energystar.gov (last accessed April 22, 2009)
2 Energy Star http://www.energystar.gov (last accessed April 22, 2009)