When shopping for new appliances, there are two government sponsored labeling programs designed to help you find the most energy efficient, environmentally friendly options. Knowing what these labels mean and how to use them can enable you to make intelligent appliance purchases.
The
bright yellow EnergyGuide labels are required by the US Department of
Energy (DOE) to display the appliance's estimated energy consumption
and estimated annual operating costs based on national average energy
costs. Federal law requires they be placed on all new appliances that have a
fairly wide range of energy efficiencies between models, including refrigerators,
freezers, water heaters, dishwashers, clothes washers, central air conditioners,
heat pumps, furnaces and boilers. Appliances having little difference in efficiency
between models, such as kitchen ranges, clothes dryers, and microwave ovens,
are exempt. These prominent and easy-to-understand labels make it simple to
compare the cost-to-operate of different models and make informed purchase decisions.
Let's
say you are shopping for a new refrigerator and you've narrowed the field to
just two models that have all the storage space and features you want. If both
models cost roughly the same amount, the EnergyGuide labels can give you the
critical information you need to make a good investment decision between the
two. If one costs $68/year and the other costs $88/ year, you now have to decide
if the "more expensive to operate" model is really worth and extra $20 dollars
per year cost to operate. And keep in mind, that's every year, so the extra
cost or savings can really add up.
The
other label you'll likely see as you shop for new appliances is the Energy
StarŽ label, sometimes referred to as the government's seal of approval.
Its purpose is to help buyers identify appliances with higher energy efficiency.
The Energy StarŽ program was launched back in 1992 by the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to help consumers protect the environment by purchasing appliances
with higher energy efficiency. Unlike DOE's mandated EnergyGuide program, Energy
StarŽ is a voluntary labeling program. It is designed to help shoppers
identify more energy-efficient products with the ultimate intent of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Energy StarŽ R-labeled appliances
exceed federal efficiency standards often by 15%, and as much as 110% for some
appliances. Buyers can be assured that a labeled appliance will have a lower
cost of operation over its life than some other models.
Computers and monitors were the first labeled products. In the mid-90s, the program was expanded to label additional office equipment and residential heating and cooling equipment. The Energy StarŽ label is now on major appliances, office equipment, lighting products, home electronics, and more. In addition, the label has been extended to cover new homes and some commercial buildings.
In summary, DOE's mandated yellow EnergyGuide labels are useful for comparing a model's energy efficiency and operating cost, while EPA's voluntary Energy StarŽ program helps you find more efficient models in the interest of reducing emissions and protecting the environment. And they work together. An Energy StarŽ qualified appliance must carry the EnergyGuide label, and EnergyGuide labels often tell if the product is Energy StarŽ qualified.
