The Purpose and Pro's of Energy Star Appliances!

Everybody uses various appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, computers, TVs, and so on. Since the appliances are powered by electricity, it means that carbon is burned. When it comes to the consumption of energy, responsible citizens need to choose the appliances that consume less energy. Energy Star is an international measure for energy efficient consumer goods. Though Energy Star was a program started in the United States in 1990’s, this standard measurement is now adopted in many countries like Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand. The program was the brainchild of John S Hoffman.

This standard measurement was designed to label energy efficient consumer goods. While Energy Star is a universal measurement, different consumer items have different specifications. The main purpose of energy efficient products is to consume less energy so that less Greenhouse gases are produced. There are several reasons that make these appliances energy efficient and based on these principal guidelines, they earn the Energy Star rating tags. Here are some of the requirements to obtain Energy Star rating.

• The main principle is to contribute to substantial savings of energy.

• The product has to perform as per the demand of the consumer along with increased energy efficiency.
• If these products are more expensive than less energy efficient products, the consumer should save on the utility bills while using the Energy Star rated products.
• The energy consumption of the product can be measured and verified.
• The label awarded to the product must be different for different products and it should be visible to the consumer.

Energy Star rated products have two price tags. The first price tag is the purchasing cost of the product and the second price tag is the operating and maintaining cost of the product that the consumer bears every month. The technology that is used to manufacture these products enables them to consume 10 to 50 percent less energy in comparison to non-star rated ones. More importantly, the use of Energy Star rated products helps to save money for the consumer in the form of lower electricity bills and also saves energy, which is beneficial to the environment. The key benefits of these products are as follows:

• At least 20 percent reduction in electricity bills.
• The quality and durability of the product is better.
• Better performance due to advance technology.

Let’s take a look at few examples of Energy Star approved appliances.

Refrigerators: Energy Star rated refrigerators save at least 40 percent energy in comparison to non-star products that were sold in 2001. If you see the appliances manufactured under current federal standard, they save a minimum of 15 percent energy.

Freezers: Energy Star rated freezers use 10 percent less energy than non-star counterparts.

Dishwashers: Energy Star rated dishwashers saves about 41 percent energy. The smart features like effective washing action, energy efficient motors, and smart sensors installed in the dishwaters make it possible to save energy.

Washing Machines: Energy Star rated washing machines consume 40 to 50 percent less energy than the minimum federal standard. These machines consume 55 percent less energy than the non-star rated ones.

Air Purifiers: Energy Star rated air purifiers use 40 percent less energy than the conventional ones, which saves about 230kWh per year.

Decorative Light Strings: Energy Star rated light strings use 70 percent less energy than the non-star ones. They also have up to 10 times more shelf life and they are safer.

Energy Star ratings came into existence to promote a greener and better environment, which can lead to a better future. Everybody can play a part to preserve the earth for future generations and reduce global warming. 

• Energy Star: Official site with information on products, home improvement, and more.
• What is Energy Star?: A description of the symbol of energy efficient.
• Rebates: A look at Energy Star Rebate Program in Texas.
• EU: The homepage of EU Energy Star for countries like England, France, Germany, and more.
• Energy: The official site of the US Department of Energy.
• Water Conservation: The water conservation page at EPA.
• Water Conservation for Kids: Discusses about how to conserve water around the house.
• Conserving Water: Find out how you can make a difference.
• Energy Saving: A number of tips to help you save energy.
• Energy Savers: Provides information on renewable energy, rebates, tips on saving energy, and more.
• Energy Saving Tips: The PDF provides tips to help you save energy on a daily basis.
• Top Tips: General tips for energy saving.
• Energy Efficiency: A guide on various appliances like air conditioning, water heating, refrigeration, and more.
• Home Appliances: Some tips to help you buy energy efficient home appliances.
• Efficient Appliances: Find out how you can save money with these appliances.
• Running Costs: A look at the running costs of appliances and how you can use them smartly.
• Measuring Energy Usage: Shows how to calculate energy usage of home appliances.
• Calculator: Use this calculator to find out how much energy is used by a certain appliance.
• Benefits: The article outlines some of the benefits of saving energy.
• Businesses: Some benefits of saving energy for businesses.