EPA Energy Efficiency Programs

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports many energy efficiency programs, most notably the ENERGY STAR Initiative. EPAs ENERGY STAR Program is a voluntary labeling program that identifies and promotes energy-efficient products and homes in the marketplace. There are four general types of ENERGY STAR programs, described below.

• ENERGY STAR Labeled Products. The ENERGY STAR program has compiled a list of energy efficient products, including windows, appliances, light fixtures, and home office equipment.
  
  For example, ENERGY STAR labeled windows can cut down heating and cooling costs and make homes more comfortable at the same time. These windows are twice as efficient as the average window produced just ten years ago. Using ENERGY STAR labeled appliances including clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and room air conditioners at home is another way of saving money and energy. ENERGY STAR labeled lighting saves money on your energy bills while helping to prevent air pollution at the same time by using 50-75% less energy than standard lighting. The advantage of dedicated fixtures is that they generally last as much as three times longer than typical incandescent bulbs.
  
  
• ENERGY STAR Good Practice Construction Programs. ENERGY STAR promotes the construction of energy efficient homes. Specifically, ENERGY STAR has a program called, ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes. These homes are built using technologies and practices to save the owners of these houses money on their utility bills, while also providing a more comfortable and durable home good for the environment and most cost-effective to own. Features of an ENERGY STAR home include improved insulation, advanced windows, tightly sealed ducts, high-efficiency heating and cooling, and reduced air infiltration. To be labeled as ENERGY STAR, homes must undergo a third party evaluation of their energy efficiency.
  
  
• ENERGY STAR Consumer Information and Education. ENERGY STAR not only promotes good practice construction, but also assists with consumer education and information on how to improve existing homes and overall energy efficiency.
  
  ENERGY STAR's Home Improvement Toolbox is a useful resource in itself for those interested in either label an existing home or just to determine what energy upgrades will yield the largest savings. Improve Your Home offers an array of interactive tools to helps consumers make energy-saving, cost-effective upgrades to their homes, enhancing their homes' value and comfort, while also protecting the environment.
  
  ENERGY STAR has recently launched a new national public awareness campaign, Change, which calls on Americans to adopt lifestyles that are more energy-efficient at home and at work. ENERGY STAR Home Sealing is a system approach to tightening the home "envelope". This includes adding insulation, especially to basement walls and to the attic; sealing air leaks to stop drafts and attain full performance from insulation; and choosing ENERGY STAR labeled windows when replacing old windows. Using ENERGY STAR Home Sealing specifications to combine effective air sealing techniques with the correct amount of insulation can cut utility costs by up to 20%.
  
  
• ENERGY STAR Bulk Product Purchasing. ENERGY STAR Purchasing initiative makes it easy for organizations to purchase energy-efficient products, reduce their energy costs, and prevent air pollution. It encourages and assists governments, schools, and businesses in procuring ENERGY STAR labeled and DOE's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) recommended products. These products use 25-50% less energy than their traditional counterparts, reduce fossil fuel use, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Institutions and businesses can save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually by purchasing and using ENERGY STAR labeled and FEMP recommended products.
  
  ENERGY STAR has a list of energy efficient products and also publishes an ENERGY STAR Purchasing Toolkit providing product and purchasing information.