The Energy Star Program
Robin Cathcart
ESM 595F
November 2, 2000
What is ENERGY STAR?
Voluntary Programs• Product labeling
– Home appliances, entertainment, lighting
• Homes– Windows, insulation, heating and cooling
• Buildings– Buildings, labeling of buildings, and small
businesses-planning assistance
• International– Bringing programs to interested countries
ENERGY STAR Labeling
• 1992-EPA focused on computers, monitors, and printers
• 1993-Executive Order 12845
• 1995-fax machines, copiers, exit signs, heating/cooling, and building design
ENERGY STAR Labeling
• 1996-DOE/EPA partnership leads to refrigerators, washers and dryers
• 1997-scanners and lighting fixtures
• 1998-TVs, VCRs, and windows
• 1999-compact florescent lamps
ENERGY STAR Labeling
Benefits for Participating Manufacturers
• Public recognition from EPA – Web based information– Awards-competition
• Brand name identification– Energy Star advertisements
ENERGY STAR Homes
• Houses using 30% less energy than the Model Energy Code-Reduces monthly bills
• Features:– Improved Insulation– Advanced Windows– Tightly-Sealed Ducts– High-Efficiency Heating and Cooling– Reduced Air Infiltration
• Special Mortgage Program– From selected lenders
ENERGY STAR Home
• Improved Insulation– Reduces effects of extreme temperatures
outside
• Tightly Sealed Ducts– Typical ducts leak 20-30% of the air forced
though them
• Reduced Air Infiltration– Seal cracks and gaps in framing and plumbing
holes
ENERGY STAR Home
• High-Efficiency Heating and Cooling– Heating/Cooling can account for 20-60% of a
home’s energy use– Energy Star labeled:
• Programmable Thermostats• Furnaces• Boilers• Heat Pumps
• Advanced Windows– Reduces heat loss in cool climates and heat gain
in warmer climates
ENERGY STAR Home
Mortgage Program
• Lenders offer:– Reduced closing costs– Fee waivers– Higher loan qualification– Interest rate discount
Standard Home
EnergyStar Home
List Price: $160,000 $163,000
Monthly Mortgage:
$1,323 $1,348
Monthly Utilities:
$142 $100
Tax Savings $0 ($3)
Total Monthly Cost:
$1,465 $1,445
Positive Cash Flow:
$0 $20
Standard Home
Energy Star Home
List Price: $157,300 $163,000
DownPayment:
$7,850 $8,150
Cash back at closing:
$0 ($500) From Energy Star Lender
Monthly Mortgage:
$1,237 $1,282
Monthly Utilities:
$148 $103
Total Monthly Cost:
$1,505 $1,505
More Home for Your Money
ENERGY STAR Buildings
• Purpose: To promote energy efficiency in owner-occupied, public and commercially owned buildings – Hospitals
– Retail stores
– Schools
– Hotels and Motels
– Restaurants
– Supermarkets …
ENERGY STAR Buildings
• Partner Agrees to:– Designate Strategic Energy Director and a
Communications Director– Conduct a Kick-off meeting with EPA
assistance– Upgrade at least one Pilot Building within 2
years of signing agreement– Use Integrated Approach– Communicate Success
ENERGY STAR Buildings
• Use Integrated Approach– Green Lights-use of compact fluorescent lights– Building Tune-Up-checking thermostats/timers– Load Reductions-getting rid of unnecessary
machinery or electronics/switch to Energy Star labeled devices
– Fan System Upgrades-Getting rid of oversized fans
– Heating and Cooling System Upgrades-reduced need after above four steps are completed
ENERGY STAR Buildings
Communicate Successes• Internally - build employee moral• Externally - boost company:
– Image– Sales– Reputation
• Benchmark efforts against other organizations
ENERGY STAR Buildings
EPA Agrees to:
• Assist Partner in Planning
• Designate customer service rep.
• Provide tools to assist with planning
• Offer workshops and provide self evaluating tools
• Provide partner with reproducible materials
• Publicly recognize exemplary partners
ENERGY STAR Buildings
Program Accomplishments (as of April 2000)
• 3,124 organizations are participating in the ENERGY STAR Buildings Program
• prevented the generation of 46.9 billion pounds of CO2
– saved over $2.2 billion in energy bills
ENERGY STAR Small Business
• Voluntary upgrade efficiency where profitable with a pay back of 3 years or less
• Implement upgrades within 3 years without losing quality or comfort of facility
• Purchase Energy Star products when possible
• No mandated reporting
ENERGY STAR Small Businesses
• Non-governmental businesses less than 10,000 ft2
• Receive:– Access to hotline for information– Newsletters– Guides for better energy saving practices– Free workshops and seminars– Public recognition through submittal of success
stories
ENERGY STAR Billing
• From 1995-1998• Drive consumer interest in energy saving
– Benchmark home energy use on electric bill
– Drive competition within neighborhood/block or house size
– Document annual consumer energy use• Show reductions and savings
• Program could not get enough funding– Terminated after promising results
ENERGY STAR International
• EPA/DOE partnership in product labeling only– Australia– European Union– Japan– Taiwan– New Zealand– Canada (negotiating)
Where is ENERGY STAR Going?
• New Markets
• Expand Globally
• Expand programs
• Increase consumer attention