Energy Star-long

Now there is good news for people who want quality products and lower utility bills. When shopping for new products, the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition encourages consumers to look for ones that have earned the Energy Star^® label—the symbol for energy efficiency. This label makes it easier for purchasers to identify with confidence those products that are highly efficient. Most energy generation also causes air pollution. So using these highly energy-efficient products will save money and help the environment.

Save Money

Households with Energy Star qualified appliances, home electronics, home office equipment, and heating and cooling equipment may enjoy a savings of up to 30 percent on their energy bills. Since the average annual household energy bill in the United States is $1,300, buying these high-efficiency products can mean a potential savings of hundreds of dollars each year.

Help the Environment

Making residential energy use more efficient can make a real contribution to the environment. The average home is responsible for more air pollution than the average car. In fact, 20 percent of all energy produced in the United States is used in homes. The pollution savings from equipping a single household with Energy Star-labeled products can be the equivalent of taking a car off the road for 7 years.

Many people don’t realize that some household electronics consume energy even when switched off. For example, standard televisions use energy to provide remote control or channel programming features during the time they are turned off. That’s where Energy Star-labeled TVs and VCRs, two of the newest members of the Energy Star Program, can help consumers shave money off their monthly bills without sacrificing performance. TVs and VCRs with the Energy Star label typically have the same or better features, price, and reliability as conventional models, but save money and the environment by using less energy when switched off.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) set energy-efficiency criteria for specific products. Manufacturers and retailers voluntarily agree to promote the sale of energy-efficient technologies that meet the Energy Star criteria. So far, over 18,000 products have met the requirements to become Energy Star certified. There are now Energy Star-labeled TVs and VCRs, home audio and DVD players, computers, office equipment, appliances, heating and cooling equipment, residential light fixtures, and even new homes on the market. With the improvement to energy efficiency often goes improvement to other features, so Energy Star-labeled products often exceed the performance of standard new equipment in many ways.

Find Out More

Consumers can get additional information about Energy Star products and programs by calling the Energy Star toll-free number, 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937). Energy Star information is also available on the World Wide Web at www.energystar.gov.