Whether you’re inspired to purchase a new appliance because of the rebates offered by your electric cooperative, are just trying to do your part in saving energy, or need to replace a worn-out appliance, it’s definitely worth checking out ENERGY STAR® appliances.
Consumers do recognize the advantages of ENERGY STAR and are purchasing appliances with the label. A survey by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency discovered 76 percent of American households recognize the ENERGY STAR brand. Of these consumers, 73 percent purchased an Energy Star-labeled product within the last year.
But how you ever wondered how appliances get this rating? And why not all appliances have them? Here’s the scoop.
History
Computers and monitors were the first products to receive an efficiency rating from ENERGY STAR, a program launched in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. Since then, more than 60 product categories have been added, from dishwashers to windows and DVD players.
The timeline for ENERGY STAR residential products:
- 1993-1995: copiers, fax machines, printers, heating and cooling products, plus labeling of new homes as ENERGY STAR
- 1996: insulation, dishwashers, refrigerators, room air conditioners
- 1997: light fixtures, scanners, washing machines
- 1999: audio/DVD equipment, roof products, CFLs
- 2001: dehumidifiers, ventilation and ceiling fans
- 2005-2010: battery chargers, power adapters
“We’re recognizing the top performers when it comes to energy efficiency,” explains Katharine Kaplan, ENERGY STAR program manager. She notes the initiative works closely with folks in a wide variety of areas, including industry experts, governments, non-profit organizations, and utilities. “We agree on a fair way to test products. Manufacturers test products using that procedure, submit the data to us, and we say, ‘These are the top performers. This is how much energy you can use to be considered a leader by ENERGY STAR. Generally, that means you’re in the top 25 percent.”
What the rating means
On average, ENERGY STAR-qualified products deliver the same or better performance as non-qualified products, while using an average of 20-30 percent less energy. Qualified refrigerators must be at least 15 percent more efficient than the minimum federal efficiency standard. ENERGY STAR-rated TVs consume 3 watts or less when switched off, compared to a standard TV, which consumes almost 6 watts on average. By pushing for the manufacturing of more efficient products, ENERGY STAR estimates the rating system saved businesses, organizations, and consumers $19 billion in 2008 alone.
But not all products are rated by ENERGY STAR. The program gauges the average energy efficiency of different appliance technologies and evaluates whether there’s potential for increased efficiency—generally at least 25 percent higher than minimum standards. According to ENERGY STAR, the most efficient electric resistance water heaters on the market have an Energy Factor of 0.95, about 5 percent more efficient than the minimum federal standard. Since there’s little room for improvement, ENERGY STAR does not have a category for the product.
“The technology doesn’t qualify for the ENERGY STAR program—not because it’s not efficient, but because it’s already as efficient as possible,” remarks Steve Koep, a regional manager for RHEEM/Marathon Water Heaters (Iowa is in Steve’s territory). “When it comes to purchasing an electric water heater, consumers should consider durability and energy factor [EF], a mandatory evaluation done on all water heaters regardless of fuel source. EF takes into account fuel use, standby energy loss, and insulation under simulated actual conditions.”
A (somewhat) tarnished star
Last October the New York Times revealed some manufacturers of household appliances were testing products for ENERGY STAR-certification internally instead of using independent laboratories. In response, ENERGY STAR ramped up oversight of product ratings and by the end of the year had revoked the ENERGY STAR label for some refrigerators while raising the bar for the efficiency expected from TVs.
For more information
- To learn more about rebates for energy-efficient appliances, check with your electric cooperative.
- To learn more about the ENERGY STAR program, visit www.energystar.gov.
Information provided by The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the national service organization dedicated to representing the national interests of cooperative electric utilities and the consumers they serve. NRECA’s more than 900 member cooperatives serve 42 million people in 47 states.