Energy Star
The
Energy Star service mark is placed on energy-efficient
products.
Energy Star (trademarked ENERGY
STAR) is an international standard for energy efficient consumer products originated in the
United States of America. It was created in 1992 by the Environmental
Protection Agency and the Department
of Energy during the Clinton
Administration. Since then, Australia, Canada,
Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union have adopted the program.
Devices carrying the Energy Star service mark, such as computer products and
peripherals, kitchen appliances, buildings and other products, generally use
20%–30% less energy than required by federal standards.
History
The Energy Star program
was developed by John
S. Hoffman, inventor of the Green Programs at EPA, working closely
with the IT industry, and implemented by Cathy Zoi and Brian Johnson.The program was intended to be part
of a series of voluntary programs, such as Green Lights and the Methane
Programs, that would demonstrate the potential for profit in reducing energy
consumption and greenhouse gases by power plants.
Initiated as a voluntary
labeling program designed to identify and promote energy efficient products,
Energy Star began with labels for computer and printer products. In 1995 the
program was significantly expanded, introducing labels for residential heating
and cooling systems and new homes. As of 2006, more than 40,000
Energy Star products are available in a wide range of items including major
appliances, office equipment, lighting, home electronics, and more. In
addition, the label can also be found on new homes and commercial and
industrial buildings. In 2006, about 12 percent of new housing in the United States was labeled Energy Star.
The EPA estimates that
it saved about $14 billion in energy costs in 2006 alone. The Energy Star
program has helped spread the use of LED traffic lights, efficient fluorescent lighting, power management systems for office
equipment, and low standby energy
use.
In 2008, the EPA
announced Green Power Partnership program, which was designed to help achieve
its goal of encouraging the use of renewable power sources. The renewable
energy credits allow companies without direct access to renewable power achieve
their goals. However, to avoid companies buying RECs years in advance of any of
the hypothetical power ever being produced, RECs are only accepted into the
program when the actual equivalent renewable power will be produced.
Specifications
Energy Star
specifications differ with each item, and are set by either the Environmental
Protection Agency or the Department of Energy. The following highlights product
and specification information available on the Energy Star website.
Computers
Energy Star 4.0
specifications for computers became effective on July 20, 2007. The
requirements are more stringent than the previous specification and existing
equipment designs can no longer use the service mark unless re-qualified. They
require the use of 80 Plus Bronze
level or higher power supplies.
Energy Star 5.0 became effective on July 1, 2009.
Servers
The EPA released Version
1.0 of the Computer Server specifications on May 15, 2009. It covers standalone
servers with one to four processor sockets. A second tier to the specification
covering servers with more than four processor sockets, as well as blade
servers and fault-tolerant machines is expected in 2012.
Appliances
As of early 2008,
average refrigerators need
20% savings over the minimum standard. Dishwashers need at least 41% savings.
Most appliances as well as heating and cooling systems have a yellow
EnergyGuide label showing the annual cost of operation compared to other
models. This label is created through the Federal Trade Commission and often
shows if an appliance is Energy Star. While an Energy Star label
indicates that the appliance is more energy efficient than the minimum
guidelines, purchasing an Energy Star labeled product does not always mean you
are getting the most energy efficient option available. For example,
dehumidifiers that are rated under 25 US pints (12 L) per day of water
extraction receive an Energy Star rating if they have an energy factor of 1.2 (higher is better),
while those rated 25 US pints (12 L) to 35 US pints (17 L) per day
receive an Energy Star rating for an energy factor of 1.4 or higher. Thus a
higher-capacity but non-Energy Star rated dehumidifier may be
a more energy efficient alternative than an Energy Star rated but
lower-capacity model. The Energy Star program's
savings calculator has also been criticized for unrealistic assumptions in its
model that tend to magnify savings benefits to the average consumer.
Another factor yet to be
considered by the EPA and DOE is the overall effect of energy-saving
requirements on the durability and expected service life of a mass-market
appliance built to a consumer-level cost standard. For example, a refrigerator
may be made more efficient by the use of more insulative spacing and a
smaller-capacity compressor using electronics to control operation and
temperature. However, this may come at the cost of reduced interior storage (or
increased exterior mass) or a reduced service life due to compressor or electronic
failures. In particular, electronic controls used on new-generation appliances
are subject to damage from shock, vibration, moisture, or power spikes on the
electrical circuit to which they are attached. Critics have pointed out that
even if a new appliance is energy-efficient, any consumer appliance that does
not provide customer satisfaction, or must be replaced twice as often as its
predecessor contributes to landfill pollution and waste of natural resources
used to construct its replacement.
Heating and cooling systems
Energy Star qualified
heat pumps, boilers, air conditioning systems, and furnaces are available. In
addition, cooling and heating bills can be significantly lowered with air
sealing and duct sealing. Air sealing reduces the outdoor air that penetrates a
building, and duct sealing prevents attic or basement air from entering ducts
and lessening the heating/cooling system’s efficiency.
Energy Star
qualified room air conditioners are
at least 10% more energy efficient than the minimum U.S. federal government
standards.
Home electronics
...Eco-i-Lite
NF-L200 and Eco-i-Lite NF-L100 have been removed from the Energy Star Qualified
Products List... It uses 2 watts even when the night light is off and the
flashlight is fully charged or not in the base (when it should be in standby
mode). The Energy Star standard for EPS (External Power Supplies like cell
phone chargers; Tier 2) is to use < 0.5 watts in standby mode.
Energy Star qualified
televisions use 30% less energy than
average. In November 2008, television specifications were improved to limit
on-mode power use, in addition to standby power which is limited by the
current specifications. A wider range of Energy Star qualified televisions will
be available. Other qualified home electronics include cordless phones, battery
chargers, VCRs and external power adapters, most of which use 90% less energy.
Imaging equipment
The Energy Star Program
Requirements for Imaging Products are focused on product families such as
electrophotographic (EP) printers, inkjet printers (e.g., thermal), copiers,
facsimile machines and other imaging equipment including MFD's (multifunctional
devices). Typical Electrical Consumption (TEC) of a product family are measured
and reported against an allowance set by the maximum throughput of the device.
Operation modes (OM) are measured and reported for devices such as inkjet
products against an allowance set by the functions present in the EUT
(equipment under test). Devices that included "adders" such as
Ethernet, on-board memory, wireless, etc. are mathematically "added"
to increase the OM allowance. Recently on February 1, 2011, the EPA/DOE added
the requirement that all products registered under the Energy Star service
mark, must be tested by an AB (Accredited Body) or CB (Certification Body)
Laboratory.
Lighting
The Energy Star is
awarded to only certain bulbs that meet strict efficiency, quality, and
lifetime criteria.
Energy Star
qualified fluorescent lighting uses
75% less energy and lasts up to ten times longer than normal incandescent lights.
Energy Star
Qualified light-emitting diode (LED)
Lighting:
§
Reduces energy costs — uses at
least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting, saving on operating expenses.
§
Reduces maintenance costs —
lasts 35 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting and about 2 to 5 times
longer than fluorescent lighting. No bulb-replacements, no ladders, no ongoing
disposal program.
§
Reduces cooling costs — LEDs
produce very little heat.
§
Is guaranteed — comes with a
minimum three-year warranty — far beyond the industry standard.
§
Offers convenient features —
available with dimming on some indoor models and automatic daylight shut-off
and motion sensors on some outdoor models.
§
Is durable — won’t break like a
bulb.
To qualify for Energy
Star certification, LED lighting products must pass a variety of tests to prove
that the products will display the following characteristics:
§
Brightness is equal to or greater
than existing lighting technologies (incandescent or fluorescent) and light is
well distributed over the area lighted by the fixture.
§
Light output remains constant over
time, only decreasing towards the end of the rated lifetime (at least 35,000
hours or 12 years based on use of 8 hours per day).
§
Excellent color quality. The shade
of white light appears clear and consistent over time.
§
Efficiency is as good as or better
than fluorescent lighting.
§
Light comes on instantly when turned
on.
§
No flicker when dimmed.
§
No off-state power draw. The fixture
does not use power when it is turned off, with the exception of external
controls, whose power should not exceed 0.5 watts in the off state.
New homes
New homes that meet
strict guidelines for energy efficiency can qualify for Energy Star
certification. An Energy Star qualified home uses at least 15% less energy than
standard homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC). They
usually include properly installed insulation,
high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, energy efficient
cooling and heating systems, and Energy Star qualified appliances, lighting,
and water heaters.
Further
information: Green
building in the United States
Energy performance ratings
The U.S. EPA's Energy
Star program has developed energy performance rating systems for several
commercial and institutional building types and manufacturing facilities. These
ratings, on a scale of 1 to 100, provide a means for benchmarking the energy
efficiency of specific buildings and industrial plants against the energy
performance of similar facilities. The ratings are used by building and energy
managers to evaluate the energy performance of existing buildings and
industrial plants. The rating systems are also used by EPA to determine if a
building or plant can qualify to earn Energy Star recognition.
For many types of
commercial buildings, you can enter energy information into EPA's free online
tool, Portfolio Manager , and it will calculate a score for your
building on a scale of 1-100. Buildings that score a 75 or greater may qualify
for the Energy Star. Portfolio Manager is an interactive energy management tool
that allows you to track and assess energy and water consumption across your
entire portfolio of buildings in a secure online environment. Whether you own,
manage, or hold properties for investment, Portfolio Manager can help you set
investment priorities, identify under-performing buildings, verify efficiency
improvements, and receive EPA recognition for superior energy performance. Profolio manager online uses
an automated benchmarking tool which can award energy star certificates to the
buildings which have uploaded 12 months of consecutive energy usage data.
Buildings
The number of space
types that can receive the energy performance rating in Portfolio Manager is
expanding and now includes bank/financial institutions,
courthouses, hospitals (acute care and children's), hotels and motels, houses
of worship, K-12 schools, medical offices, offices, residence
halls/dormitories, retail stores, supermarkets, warehouses (refrigerated and
non-refrigerated), data centers, senior care facilities, and wastewater
facilities.
See the technical
descriptions for models used in the rating system at . These documents provide detailed
information on the methodologies used to create the energy performance ratings
including details on rating objectives, regression techniques, and the steps
applied to compute a rating. A 1-100 rating can be generated for ratable space
types by entering building attributes, such as square footage and weekly
operating hours, and monthly energy consumption data into Portfolio
Manager, a free online tool provided by Energy Star. This process is
known as benchmarking and reveals how a building's energy consumption compares
to that of other similar buildings of the same space type, based on a national
average. Earning a rating of 75 or above is the first step towards achieving
the Energy Star for a building.
Energy Star energy
performance ratings have been incorporated into some green buildings standards,
such as LEED for Existing Buildings.
Energy Conservation Building Code - India
Energy Conservation Building Code - India
Industrial facilities
Energy performance
ratings have been released for the following industrial facilities:
Automobile assembly
plants, Cement Plants, Wet Corn Mills, Container glass manufacturing, Flat
glass manufacturing, Frozen fried potato processing plants, Juice processing,
Petroleum refineries, Pharmaceutical manufacturing plants.
Other facilities
Municipal wastewater
treatment plants
Small business award
The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) annually recognizes small businesses that demonstrate
abilities to reduce waste, conserve energy, and recycle. The businesses use
resources and ideas outlined in the Energy Star program. The award was established in
1999.
Controversies
On December 17, 2008,
the EPA Office of the Inspector General released its report on the Energy Star
program. The Inspector General's audit found that the program claims regarding
greenhouse gas reductions were inaccurate and based on faulty data.
Additionally, the IG found that Energy Star program's reported energy savings
were unreliable, and that many of the touted benefits could not be verified.
"Deficiencies included the lack of a quality review of the data collected;
reliance on estimates, forecasting, and unverified third party reporting; and
the potential inclusion of exported items," the report concluded.
Additionally, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Consumer Reports, and the trade website
ApplianceAdvisor.com, have released statements
claiming that Energy Star test procedures contained loopholes that allow many
inefficient products to receive Energy Star labels. Specific claims include:
§
U.S. Department of Energy
regulations allowed the manufacturers to test the refrigerators with their
ice-makers turned off, which is not how they are normally used in the home.
However, the Energy Star requirements usually exclude refrigerators that
include an ice maker because of the penetration of the ice dispenser. Some
designs get around this by dispensing the ice into a tray located in the
freezer.
§
Using outdated testing rules and
loose standards to award Energy Star ratings.
§
The program allows manufacturers to
test their own products and only selectively spot-checks the test results they
submit.
§
There are so many individually rated
refrigerator categories that even inefficient product categories (such as
side-by-sides) are certified.
Before the complaints
were raised in 2008, 2006 federal court had required the DOE to update and
tighten misleading Energy Star ratings given to products in almost two dozen
categories, including dishwashers, air conditioners, heaters, furnaces and
clothes dryers. The updates were to settle complaints by 14 states. However,
categories such as room air conditioners and clothes dryers would not be
completed until June 2011.
The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency had released reports in 2007 and 2008 claiming Energy Star
labels were misleading. Inspector general issued a report that said Energy
Star's savings claims were "not accurate or verifiable." The report
also found that shipment data for Energy Star products were not being
adequately reviewed and in some cases, were based on estimates instead of
actual shipping totals.
Martin Hellman revealed that Energy Star
standby mode requirement can be compromised when an electronic device uses
Download Acquisition Mode (DAM) feature to update TV Guide listing during
standby mode. Hellman first found the feature on Sony KDL-37XBR6.
In March 2010, a report
by the Government
Accountability Office stated that the Energy Star program had
accepted 15 out of 20 bogus products submitted for approval. The Energy Star
program had also qualified four businesses as Energy Star partners, failing to
catch the fact that information on the companies, products and staff were all
fictitious.
Testing vendors
§
Aurora International Testing Laboratory
§
CleanEdison Inc.
www.cleanedison.com
§
ITL
Boulder
§
MET Laboratories,
Inc.
§
TÜV Rheinland Group
§
TÜV SÜD America Inc.
www.TUVamerica.com
§
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
www.ul.com
