What Are the Qualifications for a Product to Earn an Energy Star?
One of the things that has become synonymous with energy efficiency is the “Energy Star” rating and logo on products. As a consumer, you’ve probably noticed these on tons of home appliances such as washer, dryers, and dishwashers. However, the Energy Star label can apply to much more than that. It can even apply to your insulation.
With so much talk about energy efficiency, and the “Energy Star” rating, what does it actually mean? Is it just another marketing scheme to help sell relatively similar products?
The short answer, is no it is not a marketing scheme. It is actually a government-backed symbol that denotes a product that is energy-efficient and can help save consumers money and protect the environment.
Qualifications
The Energy Star has a handful of qualifications in order to be awarded.
The first requirement is that the product categories must contribute significant energy savings across the United States. The keys here are “significant” and the entirety of the U.S. This means the energy savings can’t be small and incremental and they can’t just apply to someone who lives in California. The product must have significant energy savings for everyone nationwide.
Products awarded with the Energy Star must also perform as expected while additionally increasing the energy efficiency. This means that your dishwasher still must meet the requirements demanded by consumers in terms of cleaning dishes. It has to perform up to standards while still saving energy.
Another requirement is related to the cost of the product. There is a good chance that an Energy Star rated product will cost a little more than a standard version of the product. However, buyers must be able to recover this investment in increased energy efficiency through utility bill savings within a reasonable amount of time.
The energy efficiency must also be broadly available through non-proprietary technologies that multiple manufacturers offer. Basically, if there are zero competitors in terms of manufacturing capabilities, the product might not be awarded with the Energy Star.
Another qualifying factor is that the product’s performance and energy consumption can be measured and verified. The EPA must be able to test the energy efficiency of the product in order for it to be able to qualify as an Energy Star product.
Finally, the product needs to be effectively labeled so that it is visibly differentiated for consumers. This is to ensure that consumers aren’t tricked into thinking they bought an energy-efficient model when in fact they bought a standard version. The best way to figure this out is to just look for the Energy Star logo.
Well, there you have it. You now know why the Energy Star is important and how much impact it has on the energy efficiency, and potential savings it can have on your utility bills.
For more information, contact Eco Insulation online for a quote, or call us at 563-223-8681.
