ENERGY STAR Partner Programs
ENERGY STAR® is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. The program maintains quality assurance while also proving energy savings for a variety of its certified consumer products and qualified buildings. Each variety of product or building participates in an ENERGY STAR Partner Program specific to the industry type.
The following are applicable partner categories:
- Manufacturers of ENERGY STAR qualified products
- Retailers of ENERGY STAR qualified products
- State, utility and regional energy efficiency programs
- Residential new construction industry
- Commercial, industrial and government organizations
- Commercial and industrial service and product providers
- Commercial architects and design firms
- Small businesses
- Religious congregations
ENERGY STAR sets guidelines for each of the partner programs. Any given Energy Star project will consist of multiple partners, including manufacturers, verifiers, trainers and quality assurance partners who all help maintain the quality of their programs. Each of these partners do their part to help quantify the energy savings resulting from their work.
RATIONALE
A sustainability officer should look for opportunities to be involved in any of the Energy Star partner programs and encourage the purchase of ENERGY STAR qualified products. This will not only help the city save money on energy costs but will reduce carbon emissions and enhance the quality and durability of a project.
EFFORT REQUIRED
A significant amount of the effort in participating in a program to qualify a building or product is usually shifted to the industry professionals who participate in the process. This may take some additional time for multiple departments of various partners to supply information needed to verify the projected energy savings. The purchase of ENERGY STAR qualified products requires little or no additional effort as the ENERGY STAR website has a convenient listing of qualified products.2
BENEFITS
Participation in ENERGY STAR programs benefits everyone involved in the process. Consumers realize savings on utility bills, green jobs are sustained and created, and positive public relations are generated for everyone participating in the programs.
Benefits to society include job creation, reduction of carbon emissions, lower operating costs for government buildings, more productive work environments, and better design and durability of community buildings.
RISKS
Risks in participating in ENERGY STAR programs are relatively low. Initial cost of products and certification may be higher, but in most cases lower operating costs and improvements in quality and durability outweigh the up front costs.
ACTION AGENTS
Action agents range from local and federal governments that mandate or offer incentives for participating in ENERGY STAR Partner programs, to the builders and contractors participating in the various programs, verifiers labeling the end products, quality assurance partners ensuring quality of the programs, trainers who mentor industry professionals into the programs, and ultimately consumers who decide to purchase the products.
COSTS
There will usually be an up front cost increase in choosing an ENERGY STAR qualified product. However, up front costs are usually paid back in just a few years. Incentivizing ENERGY STAR qualified products is a good investment in sustainability, as the up front cost is usually what motivates product purchase, design, and building decisions. For larger purchases like homes and buildings, offering the incentive of a lower interest rate and/or more purchasing power may also affect the decision. Such incentives should be seen as worthwhile because ENERGY STAR qualified products can save consumers on monthly energy bills immediately upon installation. The difference in monthly energy saved can often exceed the added monthly payment for the increase in a loan on an ENERGY STAR qualified product, commercial or municipal building, or residential home.
A measure of a building's or product's energy performance compared with that of similar buildings or products, as determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / U.S. Department of Energy's ENERGY STARŪ Portfolio Manager. Energy efficiency is the process of using less energy to produce the same or increased functions. Often used mistakenly as a synonym for ENERGY CONSERVATION. The ability or potential of a physical body to do work. The most common forms of energy are heat, light, mechanical (moving parts), and electrical.
