New and information>

In 1992 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began ENERGY STAR as a voluntary program for labeling products designed to increase energy efficiency, save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Today ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy. There are over 12000 private and public sector organizations partnering with ENERGY STAR to bring energy efficient products to the consumer.

Products in over 50 categories are eligible for ENERGY STAR designation. Products earning the ENERGY STAR must meet energy efficiency specifications developed by EPA and DOE with input from industry stakeholders. As a greater percentage of products in a category meet the ENERGY STAR specifications, the specifications are reassessed to determine if the energy efficiency bar should be raised. For a more detailed description of this process, visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=prod_development.prod_development_spec_rev

Based on estimates by the EPA Climate Protection Partnerships Division, use of products earning the ENERGY STAR in 2007 saved consumers $16 billion in utility costs, more than double the savings experienced in 2000. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, the 2007 savings was 40 million metric tons or the equivalent of emissions from 27 million vehicles. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=about.ab_index  This evidence suggests that ENERGY STAR is building awareness of energy efficiency among consumers.

In addition to individual products, ENERGY STAR also qualifies new homes that meet energy efficiency guidelines in the following categories:
1) effective insulation,
2) high-performance windows,
3) tight construction and ducts,
4) efficient heating and cooling equipment,
5) efficient lighting and appliances, and
6) third party verification.
These guidelines are key components of green building practices, though not the only components.

Frontier Housing is an ENERGY STAR partner incorporating the energy efficient guidelines into each home it builds which translates into an estimated utility savings to the homeowner of about $200 to $400 annually compared to non-ENERGY STAR qualified construction. In the affordable housing market, such savings are significant to homeowners/occupants, allowing for more efficient income budgeting.

Recently, I had the valuable experience of accompanying Josh Trent, Frontier Housing’s Communities and Design Division Manager to several of Frontier’s building sites at Edgewood in Rowan County and at Ashland’s Pollard Neighborhood. As we toured the sites, Josh highlighted construction practices and products exemplifying the ENERGY STAR guidelines. I’ll explore these in more detail in subsequent columns.

So when you see the blue ENERGY STAR sticker on a product or home, you’ll know it signifies one measure consumers can use to help identify energy efficient products.