Energy Star (ENERGY STAR ) is a voluntary program launched by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is now managed by the EPA and the US Department of Energy (DOE) that help businesses and individuals save money and protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Energy Star provides simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make the right decisions to save money and reduce emissions. The widely recognized symbol for Energy Star energy label efficiency can be found in over 75 different product categories, new homes, commercial buildings and industrial plants. Thousands of industries, manufacturers, retailers, commercial, construction, home improvement, utilities, state, and local organizations - including more than 40 percent of Fortune 500 - rely on their partnership with Energy Star to deliver cost-effective energy efficiency solutions.
Elements of the Energy Star Program have been adopted by the European Union as well as Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and Taiwan. In the United States, the Energy Star label is also shown on the Energy Guide label of the eligible product.
Video Energy Star
History
The Energy Star program was established by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 and operates under the authority of the Clean Air Act, section 103 (g), and the 2005 Energy Policy Act, section 131 (which amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, section 324). Since 1992, Energy Star and its partners have helped save American families and businesses worth $ 430 billion in their energy bills - while also achieving widespread emissions reductions - all through voluntary action.
EPA manages Energy Star, New Home, Commercial and Industrial products. EPA develops and manages Energy Star Portfolio Manager, online energy search tools and benchmarks for commercial buildings. EPA manages IT systems that share real-time product data with thousands of retailers, manufacturers and utilities. DOE manages Housing Performance with Energy Star and provides technical support, including the development of test procedures for the product and some product verification tests.
Initiated as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products, Energy Star started off with labels for computers and printer products. In 1995 the program expanded significantly, introducing labels for new housing and home heating and cooling systems. In 2000, the Consortium for Energy Efficiency was directed by members to begin an annual survey of the impacts of Energy Star.
According to the US Energy and Employment Report for 2016, 290,000 American workers are involved in manufacturing Energy Star certified products and building materials. The report also projects that jobs in energy efficiency will grow much faster than any other field of energy sector - 9 percent in 2017 vs. an average projected growth of 5 percent across all energy sectors - and Energy Star is an integral part of that market.
Maps Energy Star
Specifications
The Energy Star specification differs from each item, and is defined by the EPA.
Computer
The Energy Star 4.0 specification for computers became effective on July 20, 2007. The requirements are more stringent than the previous specifications and the design of existing equipment can no longer use the service mark unless qualified. They require the use of 80 Plus Bronze or higher power supply. Energy Star 5.0 became effective on July 1, 2009. Energy Star 6.1 entered into force on September 10, 2014.
Server
EPA released Version 1.0 of the Server Computer specification on May 15, 2009. It includes standalone servers with one to four processor sockets. The second level for specifications that adds active power status and performance reporting to all eligible servers, as well as the multi-node and blade idle server status requirements become effective on December 16, 2013.
Tools
In early 2008, the average refrigerator required a 20% savings over minimum standards. Dishwashers require at least 41% savings. Most equipment and heating and cooling systems have yellow EnergyGuide labels that show annual operating costs compared to other models. This label is created through the Federal Trade Commission and often indicates whether the tool is rated Energy Star. While the Energy Star label shows that the tool is more energy efficient than the minimum guideline, buying products labeled Energy Star does not necessarily mean that someone gets the most energy-efficient option available. For example, dehumidifiers rated under 25 liters of US (12e, L) per day of water extraction receive an Energy Star rating if they have a 1.2 (higher) better energy factor, while they rate 25 liters of US (12Ã,¼ L) to 35 US pints (17Ã, L) per day received an Energy Star rating for energy factor of 1.4 or higher. So dehumidifiers with higher ratings but non-Energy Star may be a more energy-efficient alternative than Energy Star rated models but lower. The Energy Star program saving calculator has also been criticized for its unrealistic assumptions in its model that tends to increase the benefits of savings for the average consumer.
Another factor not considered by EPA and DOE is the overall effect of energy-saving requirements on durability and expected service life of mass market tools built for consumer-level cost standards. For example, refrigerators can be made more efficient by the use of more insulative distances and smaller-capacity compressors using electronics to control operation and temperature. However, this may come with reduced interior storage costs (or increased exterior mass) or reduced service life due to compressors or electronic failures. In particular, electronic controls used in new generation devices may be damaged by shock, vibration, humidity, or power surges on the attached electrical circuit. Critics have pointed out that even if the new tool is energy efficient, any consumer tool that does not provide customer satisfaction, or should be replaced twice as often as its predecessor contributes to the pollution of landfills and the waste of natural resources used to build its successor.
Heating and cooling system
Energy Star quality heat pumps, boilers, air conditioning systems and furnaces are available. In addition, cooling and heating bills can be significantly lowered by air sealing and channel sealing. Air sealing reduces the outside air that penetrates the building, and sealing the ducts prevents attic or underground air from entering the conduit and reduces the efficiency of the heating/cooling system. Energy Star air-conditioning rooms of at least 10% more energy-efficient than the minimum US federal government standard.
Home electronics
Eligible televisions Energy Star uses 30% less energy than average. In November 2008, the television specification was upgraded to limit power usage in mode, in addition to standby power that is limited by the current specifications. Television with a more diverse range of Energy Star will be available. Other quality home electronics include cordless phones, battery chargers, VCRs and external power adapters, which mostly use 90% less energy.
Imaging tools
Requirements The Star Energy Program for Imaging Products is focused on product families such as electrophotographic (EP) printers, inkjet printers (eg, thermal), photocopiers, facsimile machines and other imaging equipment including MFD (multifunctional devices). Typical Electric Consumption (TEC) of the product family is measured and reported against an allowance defined by the maximum throughput of the device. The mode of operation (OM) is measured and reported for devices such as inkjet products against allowances specified by the functions in the EUT (test equipment). Devices that include "adders" such as Ethernet, on-board memory, wireless, etc. Mathematically "added" to increase the OM allowance. Recently on February 1, 2011, the EPA/DOE added a requirement that all products listed under the Star Energy Service mark should be tested by the Agency AB (CB accredited Body) or CB (Certification Agency).
Exposure
Energy Star is provided only for certain lamps that meet stringent criteria of efficiency, quality and life.
Energy Star qualified fluorescent lamps use 75% less energy and hold up to ten times longer than ordinary incandescent bulbs.
Energy Star Diodes of quality light-emitting transmitters (LEDs) Lighting:
- Reduce energy costs - use at least 75% less energy than incandescent, save on operating costs.
- Reduce maintenance costs - last 35 to 50 times longer than incandescent and about 2 to 5 times longer than fluorescent lamps. No replacement bulb, no ladder, no ongoing disposal program.
- Reduces cooling costs - LEDs generate very little heat.
To be eligible for the Energy Star certification, LED lighting products must pass various tests to prove that the product will feature the following characteristics:
- The brightness is equal to or greater than the existing lighting technology (incandescent or fluorescent) and the light is distributed well above the illuminated area.
- The light output stays constant over time, only declining towards the end of the identifier (at least 35,000 hours or 12 years based on 8 hours usage per day).
- Extraordinary color quality. The shadow of white light is evident and consistent over time.
- Efficiency is as good or better than fluorescent lighting.
- The light instantly lights up when it is turned on.
- No flicker when dimmed.
- No off-state power sweepstakes. Fixture does not use power when turned off, with the exception of external controls, whose power should not exceed 0.5 watts off.
New home
New homes that meet stringent guidelines for energy efficiency can qualify for Energy Star certification. Homes built for the Energy Star Program Program are designed to be 15% more energy efficient than homes built for code. National Program Requirements refer to the International Energy Conservation Code 2009 (IECC). In countries that adopt IECC 2012, the program is rated to be 15% more efficient than IECC 2012. They typically include properly installed insulation, high performance windows, rigid construction and conduits, cooling and heating energy saving systems, and classy equipment Energy Star, lighting, and water heater.
Energy performance ratings
The US Energy Energy Star program has developed an energy performance appraisal system for several types of commercial and institutional buildings and manufacturing facilities. This rating, on a scale of 1 to 100, provides a means to measure the energy efficiency of certain industrial buildings and plants on the energy performance of similar facilities. Ratings are used by building and energy managers to evaluate the energy performance of existing buildings and industrial plants. The scoring system is also used by the EPA to determine whether buildings or factories can qualify for Energy Star recognition.
For many types of commercial buildings, one can enter energy information into the EPA's free online tool, Portfolio Manager, and will calculate the score for a person building on a scale of 1-100. Buildings that score 75 or greater can qualify for Energy Star. Portfolio Manager is an interactive energy management tool that enables one to track and assess energy and water consumption across building portfolios in a secure online environment. Whether a person owns, manages, or owns property for investment, the Portfolio Manager can help a set of investment priorities, identify low-performing buildings, verify efficiency improvements, and receive EPA recognition for superior energy performance. Portfolio Manager uses an automated benchmark tool that can provide Energy Star certification to buildings that have uploaded 12 months of energy usage data in sequence and received a score of 75 or more.
Building
The number of types of space that can receive energy performance ratings in Portfolio Manager is growing and now includes housing, banks/financial institutions, courthouses, hospitals (acute care and children), hotels and motels, houses of worship, K-12 schools, medical offices, offices, dormitories, retail stores, supermarkets, warehouses (refrigerated and non-refrigerated), data centers, senior care facilities and wastewater facilities.
See the technical description for the model used in the rating system at. These documents provide detailed information on the methodologies used to create energy performance ratings including details on ranking objectives, regression techniques, and the steps applied to calculate ratings. Rating 1-100 can be generated for tolerable types of space by including building attributes, such as square footage and weekly operating hours, and monthly energy consumption data to Portfolio Manager, a free online tool provided by Energy Star. This process is known as benchmarking and expressing how building energy consumption compares with other similar buildings of the same type of space, based on the national average. Generating a rating of 75 or more is the first step towards achieving Energy Star for a building.
Energy Star energy performance ratings have been incorporated into several green building standards, such as LEED for Existing Buildings.
Industrial facilities
The rating of energy performance has been released for the following industrial facilities:
Car assembly plant, cement factory, wet corn mill, glass container manufacturing, sheet glass manufacturing, frozen frozen processing factory, juice processing, petroleum refinery, and pharmaceutical factory.
Other facilities
Small business award
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annually recognizes small businesses that demonstrate the ability to reduce waste, conserve energy, and recycle. Businesses use the resources and ideas outlined in the Energy Star program. The award was established in 1999.
Controversy
In March 2010, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted a secret test of the Energy Star product certification process and found that Energy Star is largely a self-certification program that is prone to fraud and abuse. While GAO suggests, by sending counterfeit products from fabricated companies, cheating is possible, they do not find evidence of consumer fraud related to the quality or performance of Energy Star quality products.
In response, the Environmental Protection Agency instituted third-party certification for all Energy Star products beginning in 2011. Under this regime, products are tested in EPA-recognized laboratories and reviewed by EPA-recognized certification bodies before they can carry labels. In order to be acknowledged, the laboratory and the certification body must meet the specified criteria and should be supervised by a recognized accreditation body. In addition, the percentage of the Energy Star certified product model in each category is subject to off-the-shelf verification testing annually.
Senator Susan M. Collins (ME), who at the time was a Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Senate and the Government Affairs Committee and had requested the GAO audit, praised the changes made to further protect the credibility and integrity of the Star Energy Program.
By 2017, there are 23 independent certification bodies and 255 independent laboratories recognized for certification and testing of Energy Star products. Most of them cover several types of products. By 2016, 1,881 product models are subject to verification testing with an overall 95% compliance rate.
In March 2017 the Trump Administration proposed a budget that would eliminate the program. This led to a steady expression of support for the Energy Star program from environmental groups, energy efficiency supporters, businesses and others, including the "potentially lethal potentially deadly implications of program deletion" on the Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.
Adoption in building code
Current and projected standard energy code and adoption standards are displayed in the map in the link.
The following cities have mandatory reporting requirements.
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Boston, MA
- Minneapolis, MN
- New York, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Washington, DC
See also
- ASUE (Germany)
- Indian Energy Efficiency Bureau
- EnerWorks
- the EU energy label
- Green computing
- Green energy
- House Energy Rating (Australia)
- Various electric charges
- One Watt Initiative
- Plug a load
- Power management
- Weather
References
External links
- Energy Star
- Energy Star Australia
- Energy Star Canada
- Energy Consumption Calculator
- Energy Star entry at Ecolabelling.org
- Energy Efficiency Breakdown of energy Star energy costs, savings and energy efficiency
- Energy Star, Energy Services & amp; List of Product Providers
- EPA-recognized Certification Bodies and Laboratories
- 5.0 Star Computer Energy Specification (November 14, 2008)
- 10 CFR 430, Sub-Section B, Appendix A for Subdivision B Section 430 - Uniform Test Methods for Measuring Energy Consumption from Electrical Refrigerators and Electric Refrigerators
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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