What is ENERGY STAR®?
ENERGY STAR® is a government-backed symbol of energy efficiency, providing straightforward, credible, and impartial information that consumers and businesses rely on to make informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, municipal, state, and local organizations collaborate with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver cost-effective energy efficiency solutions that protect the climate while improving air quality and safeguarding public health. Since its inception in 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have enabled American families and businesses to save 5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, avoid over $500 billion in energy costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4 billion tons. Throughout the program's history, each dollar spent by the EPA on ENERGY STAR has yielded nearly $350 in energy cost savings for American households and businesses. In 2020 alone, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped Americans save more than 520 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, translating to an avoidance of $42 billion in energy costs.
ENERGY STAR® Products
ENERGY STAR simplifies the choice for energy efficiency, making it easier for consumers and businesses to select products that save money and benefit the environment. The EPA ensures that every product bearing the ENERGY STAR label is independently certified to meet the efficiency and savings expectations of consumers. This commitment to integrity resulted in the sale of over 300 million ENERGY STAR-certified products and more than 300 million ENERGY STAR-certified light bulbs in 2020, with a combined market value exceeding $100 billion. Notably, an average of 800,000 ENERGY STAR-certified products were sold each day in 2020, contributing to a total of more than 7 billion products sold since 1992. For more information on ENERGY STAR products, please visit their official website.
ENERGY STAR®, Jobs, and the Economy
ENERGY STAR plays a crucial role in the transition to a clean energy economy by fostering job creation and economic development, enhancing competitiveness, and promoting a sustainable environment. In 2020, ENERGY STAR-certified products, homes, buildings, and facilities helped American families and businesses save over 520 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and avoid $42 billion in energy costs. The ENERGY STAR program encourages significant private investment; throughout its duration, each dollar spent by the EPA on ENERGY STAR has generated $230 in investments by American businesses and households in energy-efficient infrastructure and services.
According to the U.S. Energy and Employment Report, more than 700,000 Americans are employed in the manufacturing or installation of ENERGY STAR-certified products—approximately 35% of the estimated 2.1 million energy efficiency jobs in the U.S. as of 2020. Moreover, ENERGY STAR enhances U.S. energy security and strengthens the reliability of the electrical grid by promoting energy efficiency.
ENERGY STAR and the Environment
ENERGY STAR is a vital tool in the fight against climate change, enhancing air quality, and protecting public health. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants, ENERGY STAR provides states and local governments with greater flexibility and lower costs in achieving their climate, air quality, and public health objectives. In 2020, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped Americans save over 520 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, leading to a reduction of more than 400 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to over five percent of total U.S. emissions. This initiative also resulted in the reduction of 210,000 short tons of sulfur dioxide, 210,000 short tons of nitrogen oxides, and 20,000 short tons of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The air quality improvements attributed to the ENERGY STAR label provided public health benefits valued between $7 billion and $17 billion in 2019 alone. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR has contributed to a reduction of 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Throughout the program's duration, each dollar invested by the EPA has corresponded to a reduction of 3 metric tons of greenhouse gases.
For a comprehensive list of appliances meeting these standards and to download certifications for your desired appliances, please visit the official website at www.energystar.gov. You can also utilize the product finder available at this link.
