Washington, D.C., March 30, March 30 -- In March, the Energy Star celebrated 20 years. It's come a long way. The Energy Star label provides a simple way for consumers to identify energy-efficient products, and they respond to the label by choosing to buy products that will allow them to save power.
Being energy-efficient is one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest ways for power consumers to save money according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The Energy Star program offers ways for the average American to do just that.
The Energy Star label started out as being applicable to office products such as personal computers and monitors before expanding to include heating and cooling equipment, residential appliances, lighting, windows, doors and skylights, TV's, VCR', and solid door refrigerators and freezers.
Of course, in the larger picture, the program has helped reduce the United States' greenhouse gas emissions.
'20 years'
According to the E.P.A. over the past two decades since 1992, American families and businesses have saved a total of nearly $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions with the help of Energy Star.
Now, 20 years later, Energy Star is a household name.
Based on the results of the 12th national household survey of consumer awareness of Energy Star sponsored by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, people recognize the label ' and it's influencing their buying decisions.
The survey took a look at consumer recognition, understanding and purchasing influence of the Energy Star label and found that 84 percent of households recognized it.
Of the households surveyed, 64 percent associated the Energy Star label with efficiency or energy savings. Of those who said they recognized the label, 76 percent said it influenced their purchasing decisions.
'Consumers are turning to Energy Star to save energy in their home and better protect the environment. More than 80 percent of Americans recognize the Energy Star label and 30 to 45 percent of households report purchasing an Energy Star qualified product in a given year,' noted the E.P.A.
'Energy Star and business'
For now, the E.P.A. is working with the business sector to continue the program's success. The program has truly become a market-based partnership, depending on the cooperation of businesses that produce, manufacture and commercialize energy efficient products because they too recognize the power of the label.
The E.P.A. recognizes 20,000 partners among businesses throughout the nation. As part of the E.P.A.'s celebration of the 20th anniversary of Energy Star, they recognized the best of these as their 2012 Energy Star winners. Of all the Energy Star partners, 109 organizations were recognized in one of four Energy Star award categories ' corporate commitment, sustained excellence, partner of the year and excellence in delivering specific promotions.
Top honors went to Sears Holdings Corporation which earned the Energy Star Corporate Commitment award given to partners with superior achievements in energy efficiency that span the breadth of the program. This is only the fifth time that the E.P.A. has given this award. Sears, the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer and a leading home appliance provider, has been involved with Energy Star since the beginning and carries a broad selection of Energy Star qualified products. The company itself has reduced their energy consumption companywide for 1,371,648,000 kilowatt-hours in energy savings since 2006.
The E.P.A. awarded sustained excellence awards to 57 businesses for outstanding achievements in energy efficiency; 36 partner of the year awards for those that promote energy-efficient products, practices and services; and 15 excellence awards for advancing energy-efficient products, homes or buildings.
"Thanks to their innovative thinking and commitment to energy efficiency, these leaders are helping Americans find cost-effective ways to save energy in everything we do, which is good for our environment, our health and our future," said E.P.A. Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, announcing the winners on March 15. Published by HT Syndication with permission from EcoSeed.
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