What Does The ENERGY STAR Label Mean?
If you are in the market for a new home appliance, from televisions to air conditioners, and are concerned about energy efficiency, you may have seen the energy star label (pictured at right). But do you know what it means or why it exists? Keep reading to find out.
A Brief History
ENERGY STAR is a program run by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It was started in 1992 as part of an initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One of the ways they achieve this goal is through the ENERGY STAR Label, which is designed to help American consumers make wise energy efficient decisions.
The Meaning of the ENERGY STAR Label
The ENERGY STAR label means that the product is more efficient than similar non-labeled items. In order to receive the label, the appliance must meet a set of requirements, as established by the EPA.
All ENERGY STAR labeled products must:
- Reduce greenhouse gasses and significantly decrease energy use
- Possess any features that have become expected for similar appliances
- Deliver the industry-expected level of performance
- Re-coup the additional cost of the product through energy savings
- Pass tests that verify energy savings and reliability
The above are the requirements that every ENERGY STAR labeled product must meet. However, there are also additional standards in each individual category. For example, the energy efficiency standards for computers are different than the standards for washing machines.
You can find ENERGY STAR labels on:
- Televisions
- Computers and monitors
- Ceiling fans
- Washing machines
- Dishwashers
- Ovens
- Refrigerators
- Water heaters
- Heat pumps
- Air conditioners
- And more
How You Can Use the ENERGY STAR Label to Save
ENERGY STAR estimates that it has helped save American consumers over $230 billion on utility bills and prevented 1.7 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas. When shopping for a new appliance, it is one of the things you can use to ensure you are getting an efficient and reliable product.
Additional considerations
If you are looking for a new heat pump, air conditioner or furnace, there are also a few other ways you can compare energy efficiency.
- SEER – SEER measures the seasonal energy efficiency of heat pumps and air conditioners. The minimum SEER for new cooling equipment is 13 and the higher the number, the more efficient it is.
- AFUE – AFUE is used as a measure of efficiency for gas furnaces. It is displayed as a percentage and indicates the amount of fuel that is used to create heat. For example a furnace with a 80% AFUE converts 80% of the gas it uses to heat (wasting 20%).
Finding the energy efficient air conditioner, heat pump or furnace that is right for your Arizona home can be difficult. Contact Fountain Hills Air online for help!