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ENERGY STAR

An Effective Practice

Description

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR ranks household products and new homes according to strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy, allowing consumers to make informed energy-saving choices. The program also challenges businesses and government buildings to reduce energy consumption and offers recognition by the EPA for superior energy performance.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this program is to reduce energy usage in order to save on energy costs, increase energy reliability, prevent greenhouse gas emissions, and improve national energy security. It is also an essential strategy for reducing natural gas prices and ensuring a balanced energy future in a growing economy.

Results / Accomplishments

Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, prevented 30 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2004 alone--equivalent to the annual emissions from 20 million vehicles--and saved about $10 billion on their utility bills. They also saved a significant amount of energy in 2004--135 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) or 4 percent of total 2004 electricity sales. In addition, ENERGY STAR helped avoid 24,000 megawatts (MW) of peak power, the equivalent amount of energy required to power about 24 million homes.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
United States Environmental Protection Agency, United States Department of Energy
Primary Contact
US EPA
Climate Protection Partnerships Division
ENERGY STAR Programs Hotline
& Distribution (MS-6202J)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20460
(888) STAR-YES
http://www.energystar.gov/
Topics
Environmental Health / Energy & Sustainability
Organization(s)
United States Environmental Protection Agency, United States Department of Energy
Date of publication
2004
Date of implementation
1992
Location
USA
Target Audience
Families
Additional Audience
Businesses

Related Promising Practices

  1. Best Practices Report: Energy Efficiency
  2. Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
  3. The Interfaith Coalition on Energy
  4. Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP)
  5. Combined Heat and Power Partnership
  6. Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP)

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Related Content for: ENERGY STAR

An Effective Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success and/or promise in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures of improvement in outcome of interest (i.e. increase in voter registration, not just delivery of voter registration drive) and/ or the outcome measure is increased or improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant.