Dear Members,


Question: Why do some appliances have Energy Star stickers? How do they relate to the yellow EnergyGuide stickers?

Answer:

Energy Star is a voluntary program. To earn an Energy Star label requires manufacturers to meet the minimum standards set by the program—which exceed the efficiency of standard products—and to apply for the label. This means that there may be appliances that meet or exceed the efficiency of Energy Star-labeled models but the paperwork is not done. On the Energy Star website, you can find a list of ENERGY STAR Qualified Equipment and Summary Specifications at the link below.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_es_home_office


Energy Guides

The familiar yellow-and-black EnergyGuides are required by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers, room air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces, boilers, central air conditioners, heat pumps and pool heaters. The labels provide an estimate of the product's energy consumption or energy efficiency as well as the highest and lowest energy consumption or efficiency estimates of similar appliance models. The FTC also requires energy disclosures for certain lighting products and water use labeling for certain plumbing products. See link below.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/eande/index.html


For additional information:

Call FTC toll-free helpline at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) (TDD: 1-866-653-4261).

Additional Resource:
"How to Buy an Energy-Efficient Home Appliance" discusses the two labels (EnergyGuide and Energy Star), Federal Trade Commission in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, June 2000. See link below.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/homes/applnces.htm


Source: Energy Ideas