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