How ENERGY STAR Works

The ENERGY STAR program is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ENERGY STAR is a voluntary labeling program: EPA sets energy efficiency specifications and those that meet them can choose to display the ENERGY STAR logo. In turn, consumers and businesses who want to save energy and money can look for the ENERGY STAR label when making buying decisions.

The Five Key Areas of ENERGY STAR

Products

Products that earn the ENERGY STAR label are independently certified to meet strict standards for energy efficiency. Thousands of manufacturers and retailers partner with EPA to make and sell these products.

Existing Homes

EPA provides guidance on high-impact energy efficiency improvements for existing homes. These actions can save homeowners significant amounts of energy and money and prepare them for a clean energy future.

New Homes

EPA partners with thousands of home builders, developers, energy rating companies, and utilities across the U.S. who construct, verify, promote, and incentivize ENERGY STAR certified homes and apartments.

Commercial Buildings

Through ENERGY STAR, EPA helps building owners and managers determine the most cost-effective approach to managing their energy use—enabling organizations to save energy, increase profits, and boost competitiveness.

Industrial Plants

Hundreds of U.S. manufacturers have deployed the ENERGY STAR program’s strategic energy management resources to foster an organizational culture focused on continuous improvement of energy performance.

The Power of Partnership

Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500®—partner with EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every $1 EPA spends to administer ENERGY STAR, these partners add $230 of their own investment. The result is millions of ENERGY STAR certified products, homes, apartments, buildings, and industrial plants across the nation; utility rebate programs reaching 95% of American households; 4 billion tons of emissions reductions; and $500 billion in cost savings.