Electricity Shopping in Texas Made Easy

Energy Star 101

What you always wanted to know about Energy Star...

Introduction

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» Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient consumer products.

» It was first created as a United States government program by the Clinton Administration in 1992, but Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union have also adopted the program.

» Devices carrying the Energy Star logo, generally use 20%–30% less energy than required by federal standards.

» Many European-targeted products are labeled using a different standard, TCO Certification, a combined energy usage and ergonomics rating from the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees (TCO) instead of Energy Star.

History

» 1991» EPA introduces the Green Lights

Program

» 1992» EPA introduces the first ENERGY

STAR qualified product line. Initiated as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy efficient products, Energy Star began with labels for computer products.

» 1995» the program was significantly

expanded, ENERGY STAR for buildings launched

» 2006» more than 40,000 Energy Star

products are available in a wide range of items

» 2008» USEPA announced Green Power

Partnership program 3

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Specifications

Computers

» New Energy Star 5.0 specifications for computers became effective on July 1 2009.

» They require the use of 80 PLUS Bronze level or higher power supplies.

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Servers

» The EPA released Version 1.0 of the Computer Server specifications on May 15, 2009.

» 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 late 2010.

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Appliances

» When buying an appliance, remember that it has two price tags: what you pay to take it home and what you pay for the energy and water it uses.

» ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10–50% less energy and water than standard models.

» The money you save on your utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but more efficient ENERGY STAR model.

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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.

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Home Electronics

» Energy Star qualified televisions use 30% less energy than average.

» In November 2008, television specifications will be 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.

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Lightning

» 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

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Home Office

» New Energy Star specification for desktop computers went into effect 20 July 2007.

» The requirements are more stringent than the previous specification and existing equipment designs can no longer use the logo unless re-qualified.

» The power requirements are for 80% or greater AC power supply efficiency using the standards defined by 80 Plus Program.

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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.

» 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.

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Energy Performance Ratings

Buildings

» Commercial and institutional buildings rating have been developed for the following common building types:» Bank/Financial Institutions,» Courthouses, » Hospitals » Hotels and Motels, » K-12 Schools, » Medical Offices, » Offices, » Residence Halls/Dormitories, » Retail Stores, » Supermarkets, » Warehouses (refrigerated and

non-refrigerated)

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Industrial Facilities

» Energy performance ratings have been released for the following industrial facilities:» Automobile assembly

plants, » Cement Plants, » Corn Refineries(Wet

Corn Mills

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Other Facilities

» Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants

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Electricity Shopping in Texas Made Easy