New Energy Star Initiative Recognizes Cutting-Edge Products with Highest Energy Efficiency / Most Efficient designation will help shoppers reduce their energy bills, provide...
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today are announcing for the
first time products recognized as the most energy-efficient in
their categories among those that have earned the Energy Star
label. This pilot program is part of Energy Star’s overall
commitment to protect people’s health and the environment by
encouraging energy efficiency. The “Most Efficient”
initiative also continues Energy Star’s work to provide
consumers with the best efficiency information so they can make
investments that will lower their energy bills and environmental
impact. The new designation of Most Efficient aims to provide all
manufacturers with an incentive for greater product energy
efficiency while providing consumers new information about the
products that comprise the top tier in the categories.
"This new designation will help Americans save money and cut
pollution by quickly pointing them to the best Energy Star products
have to offer. Highlighting Energy Star's Most Efficient products
is a great way to encourage the strides in innovation that bring
even more energy and money saving choices to our stores," said EPA
Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "We know American consumers are
eager to make purchases that save them money on their utility bills
and reduce the pollution in the air we breathe, and these labels
will help them identify the best ways to find those
purchases."
"Over the last two decades, the Energy Star
program has consistently offered consumers energy choices that have
helped families save billions of dollars on their energy
bills,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "The new Most
Efficient designation is the next step towards encouraging new,
more energy-efficient products to enter the market, so that
consumers will have even more choices when it comes to high
performance, high efficiency products that will save them energy
and money.”
Products that receive the Most Efficient designation demonstrate
exceptional and cutting-edge efficiency performance that
environmentally-minded consumers and early adopters value. The Most
Efficient recognition will represent approximately the top five
percent of models on the market in the following categories:
clothes washers, heating and cooling equipment, televisions, and
refrigerator-freezers. The following Energy Star partners’
products are among the first to be recognized as Most Efficient:
Electrolux Major Appliances, Sears’ Kenmore, LG, Samsung,
Best Buy’s Insignia Brand, Panasonic, Nordyne, and Rheem.
Later this year, EPA will initiate a process to consider additional
product categories for potential inclusion in 2012.
Consumers will be able to identify Most Efficient products on the
Energy Star website and in stores by looking for the Most Efficient
designation. In addition to meeting established performance
requirements, products must also be Energy Star qualified and
certified by an EPA-recognized certification body. Manufacturers
are encouraged to submit products that meet the requirements to EPA
for recognition.
Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to help
Americans save money and protect the environment through
energy-efficient products and practices. Today, the Energy Star
label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products as
well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet
strict energy efficiency specifications set by the EPA. Last year
alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $18 billion
on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions
equivalent to annual emissions of 33 million vehicles.
More information on Energy Star’s Most
Efficient qualifications: https://www.energystar.gov/partner_resources/energy_star_most_efficient_2020_criteria
More information on Energy Star’s Most
Efficient products: https://www.energystar.gov/products/energy_star_most_efficient
More information on the Energy Star program: https://www.energystar.gov/