What Is Energy Star Qualified?
With concerns growing about the cost and overuse of energy, many consumers attempt to seek out energy-efficient products whenever possible. The Energy Star standard is one way to ensure your choices meet efficiency standards. Does this Spark an idea?
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Energy Star
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The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy founded the Energy Star program in 1992 to highlight products that exceed federal energy-efficiency guidelines. Though originally limited in scope, it has expanded to cover a wide range of products.
Home Computers
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Computers were an early target of Energy Star standards, primarily due to the energy wasted by cathode-ray monitors. Energy Star monitors used less electricity, primarily through an automatic shutoff mechanism that would turn off the screen when not in use.
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Appliances
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Many types of home appliances may bear Energy Star labels, indicating they use, on average, 20 percent to 30 percent less energy than the industry standard.
Lighting
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Lighting fixtures that bear the Energy Star logo, usually fluorescent lights, use 75 percent less electricity than standard bulbs and can last up to 10 times longer.
Buildings
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Recently, Energy Star qualifications have been granted to homes and new buildings. To merit this rating, the structure must be designed to use at least 15 percent less energy than standard homes.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Wonderlane
