Solutions for EnergySTAR

Save up to $145 a Year in Energy with a New Energy Star Clothes Washer

2009-10-26T21:36:26Z

Recycle Your Old Clothes Washer; Replace When Needed with ENERGY STAR®

Has your clothes washer been around for years? You've had it so long, it sounds like a marching band when it runs?

There's no better time than the present to recycle your time-worn clothes washer. If your washer is more than 10 years old, you're paying about $145 more each year on your utility bill than you would if you owned a new, ENERGY STAR qualified model. You're also wasting 30 gallons of water per load of laundry--equivalent to almost two times the amount of water used in an average shower.

In addition to the immediate energy and water savings from unplugging your old unit, some utilities, cities, and counties are paying consumers to get their old washers off the grid, and to properly recycle the steel and other materials they contain. You may also be able to take advantage of rebates on new energy-efficient appliances in the coming months, thanks to federal stimulus funds. Visit the ENERGY STAR Make a Clean Change: Recycle Your Old Clothes Washer Campaign at www.energystar.gov/recycle to find recycling options and learn about rebates and special deals in your area.

When you go searching for a new unit, be sure to look for the blue ENERGY STAR label. Every major appliance manufacturer sells ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers, which are 40 percent more energy and water efficient than the minimum federal energy standard. That means that purchasing an ENERGY STAR qualified model over a conventional model will save you an average of $50 a year on your utility bills. Over the life of your new washer, you'll save enough money to pay for the matching dryer.

Other plusses: new ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers are easier on your clothes, have larger capacities, and use less detergent than their conventional counterparts. Perhaps best of all, ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers use less energy, helping us reduce our contribution to global climate change. By reducing water consumption, they also help protect our lakes, streams, and oceans.

To get the best performance from your machine, use the recommended amount of high-efficiency laundry detergent. For the greatest energy savings, fill the washer to capacity and use cold water whenever you can.

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program that helps individuals and businesses save energy and protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Learn more at www.energystar.gov.

Recycle your old washer...and buy Energy Star models

2009-10-26T21:33:32Z

The U.S. Department of Energy announces the ENERGY STAR® Make a Clean Change: Recycle Your Old Washer Campaign. Found at www.energystar.gov/recycle, this campaign encourages consumers to properly recycle their inefficient clothes washers and, when needed, replace them with new ENERGY STAR qualified models.

Why? Because clothes washers manufactured before 1999 use more than 4 times the energy of today's ENERGY STAR qualified models. These inefficient units waste 30 gallons of water per load of laundry--equivalent to almost two times the amount of water used in an average shower. An estimated 84.1 million households have a top-loading washer; 24 million of these are ten years old or older. Combined, the inefficient appliances use $9 billion per year in energy and water costs.

Please spread the word by sharing the article below with your friends and family.

A complementary effort to recycle inefficient refrigerators and freezers is also in progress. Thank you for your continued support of ENERGY STAR.

GreenChill from EPA for Grocers

2009-09-02T20:31:54Z

EPA's GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership

GreenChill's founding food retail partners created baseline measurements of corporate-wide refrigerant emissions in 2007 and set goals to reduce those emissions in 2008. These partners reduced their aggregated total corporate emissions rate from 13 percent to 11.9 percent in 2008, an emissions reduction of 8.5 percent in one year.

Early GreenChill Partners are:
Sprouts Farmers Market, Fresh & Easy, Raley's Family of Fine Stores, Whole Foods, Supervalu, and Hill Phoenix Chill for the Environment

EPA's GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership announced its 2009 partner awards, and among the awardees are: Sprouts Farmers Market, Fresh & Easy, Raley's Family of Fine Stores, Whole Foods, Supervalu (including the Albertsons and Lucky Supermarkets banners), and Hill Phoenix. An EPA cooperative alliance with the supermarket industry, the GreenChill Partnership works with supermarkets to reduce their emissions of ozone-depleting and greenhouse gas refrigerants.

Sprouts Farmers Market, which owns stores across California, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas, received a New Partner Award, as did Fresh & Easy and Raley's Family of Fine Stores. Fresh & Easy can be found in Arizona, California and Nevada while Raley's Family of Fine Stores is located in California and Nevada.

"We look forward to a productive and mutually beneficial partnership with our new partners," said Keilly Witman, GreenChill Program Manager. "The public wants to do business with companies that share their environmental values. By joining GreenChill, these supermarkets are proving to consumers that they care about the Earth's ozone layer and climate system."

New partners pledge to go above and beyond regulatory requirements by measuring and tracking refrigerant emissions that affect climate change and the Earth's ozone layer, and then setting reduction targets for these emissions. Partners also agree to use only ozone-friendly alternatives in all new and remodeled stores.

"In Raley's first year as a GreenChill Partner, the company has already taken the lead in the number of GreenChill-certified stores," said Witman. "Raley's Family of Fine Stores has received two gold-level store certification awards and two silver-level store certification awards, proof that Raley's takes the GreenChill mission to protect the ozone layer and fight climate change very seriously."

Whole Foods, a nationwide chain of supermarkets, received the award for Most Improved Emissions Rate. Supervalu, which is the parent company of the Albertsons and Lucky banners, was recognized for achieving its emissions target in 2008/2009.

Refrigeration manufacturer Hill Phoenix also earned a Distinguished Partner Award for its advanced refrigeration technology, including compact chillers and secondary loop systems.

EPA estimates that if every supermarket in the nation joined GreenChill and reduced its emissions to the current GreenChill average, the nation could save the equivalent of 22 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and 240 ozone depleting potential (ODP) tons every year, all the while saving $108 million in refrigerant expenses annually.

GreenChill now has a total of 46 partners, including 37 food retail partners with over 6,500 stores in 47 states. For additional information on the EPA GreenChill Partnership, please visit: www.epa.gov/greenchill.

New Energy Star Partners Almost Triple in 2008

2009-07-02T17:27:01Z

The number of commercial and industrial organizations joining ENERGY STAR almost tripled in 2008, accounting for more than 2,000,000,000 (2 billion!) new committed square feet. By the end of 2008, there were more than 2,400 organizations that have committed to adopt continuous energy management practices.

Partnerships between EPA and organizations such as the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the largest industrial trade association in the U.S., have signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) to work together to improve the energy efficiency of their sectors of the U.S. economy. NAM helps educate U.S. manufacturers that they CAN and SHOULD strategically manage energy in their operations. The savings make this a win-win message and contributes significantly to the total reduction of energy use in the U.S.

If you would like to partner with EPA to improve your energy efficiency, visit: www.energystar.gov/joinbuildings

Cities Earn Top Honors for Energy Star Labeling Achievements

2009-07-02T17:18:40Z

For the first time, EPA released a list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the largest number of energy efficient buildings in 2008 that have earned EPA's Energy Star. The list is headed by Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Washington, D.C.,

Additional top achieving cities include:

Dallas-Fort Worth
Chicago
Denver
Minneapolis-St Paul
Atlanta
Seattle
Boston
New York
Austin
Detroit
milwaukee
San Antonio
Philadelphia
Charlotte
Portland
Grand Rapids
Sacramento
Phoenix
Miami
Riverside, CA
Madison

These top cities are those whose schools, hospitals, office buildings, courthouses, grocery stores, retail centers and auto assembly plants have earned the EPA's ENERGY STAR.

To label your building, go to www.energystar.gov/eslabel.
To label your industrial plant, go to www.energystar.gov/plants.

Earning the ENERGY STAR Label for High Performance Buildings

2009-07-02T17:14:22Z

Buildings earn the ENERGY STAR by achieving a score of 75 or higher on EPA's energy performance rating system and meeting relevant requirements for indoor air quality.

These buildings typically use 35 % less energy than average buildings.

More than 6,200 top performing buildings earned the ENERGY STAR rating through 2008 for being energy all-stars. Total labeled floor space topped over 1 billion square feet for the first time, an increase of more than 55% over 2007.

Industrial Sector: 45 plants have also qualified for the ENERGY STAR since that recognition became available in 2006. They include

15 auto assembly plants,
19 cement plants,
3 wet corn milling plants, and
8 oil refineries.

According to Energy Star calculations, the 2008 achievements in Energy Star labeled buildings and plants reflected an overall annual utility savings of more than $1.7 billion and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 2 million cars a year.

ENERGY STAR's Industrial Focus on Energy

2009-07-02T17:09:44Z

Ten major industries participate in Energy Star's Industrial Focuses to pool ideas and work toward energy efficiency improvements.

Industrial Focuses provide an opportunity for companies within each single manufacturing industry to network with peers and share industry-specific energy management tools and resources.

The goal of each industrial focus is to:

Improve energy efficiency of the industry
Create momentum for continued improvement
Provide energy guides to uncover energy efficiency opportunities
Encourage sharing of ideas
Develop an energy performance indicator to evaluate the energy efficiency of their plants relative to the typical efficiency levels of their industry and to recognize the high performers with the ENERGY STAR label.

Industries that participate in Energy Star's Industrial Focus programs include:

Cement Manufacturing
Corn Refining
Food Processing
Glass Manufacturing
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
Petrochemical Manufacturing
Petroleum Industry
Pharmaceuticals
Pulp & Paper
Steel

Energy Use Benchmarking Gains Momentum by Building Type

2009-07-02T17:00:28Z

Benchmarking energy use is a first step
to assess energy performance and to measure ongoing progress.

EPA's online tool Portfolio Manager enables building owners and managers to rate their individual commercial buildings on a scale of 1 to 100 against similar buildings, track energy performance over time, and target investments in energy efficiency.

States and local government agencies, professional associations, and vendors offer training, expertise, and networking opportunities to make benchmarking buildings easier for their constituents, and they are tapping into ENERGY STAR to accomplish this task.

This partnership has resulted in continued growth across the country, reflecting a 50% increase in rated floor space from over 7.5 billion square feet in 2007 to more than 11.5 billion square feet in 2008.

Regular Assessment Becoming SOP

About 60% of this space is being repeatedly rated for its energy use, which indicates that regular assessment is becoming a standard practice for many.

Benchmarking By Building Type

EPA's energy performance rating system is now available for 11 specific building space types that account for around 60% of the carbon emissions resulting from commercial buildings.

Offices
K-12 Schools
Retail Stores
Hospitals
Hotels / Motels
Supermarkets / Grocery Stores
Banks / Financial Institutions
Warehouses
Medical Offices
Courthouses
Residence Halls / Dormitories

By building type, offices and schools experienced the largest increases in benchmarking in 2008. Offices close to doubled the number and floor space rated; rated schools increased by almost 80% with floor space almost doubling.

Energy Star added 11.5 billion sq. ft of space in 2008

2009-07-02T16:55:21Z

An update from Energy Star shows that commercial and industrial organizations continued strong activity in 2008, outpacing previous year efforts.

Use of EPA's energy performance rating system maintained solid growth.

At the end of 2008, more than 11.5 billion square feet of space has been rated.

And at the same time new organizations partnering with EPA as ENERGY STAR partners nearly tripled.

Recognition of organizations for improvement and top performance grew significantly and the number of facilities qualifying for the ENERGY STAR label surpassed 6,200.

For an update on this progress, please view the latest version of the "ENERGY STAR Snapshot: Measuring Progress in the C&I Sectors". The report also includes state-by-state activity and ratings data on the top Designated Market Areas in the U.S.

It provides a look at:

Trends in the energy performance rating of commercial and institutional buildings
State-by-state activity along with activity for the top 25 Designated Market Areas
Industrial sector participation in ENERGY STAR
Trends in ENERGY STAR certification for commercial and industrial facilities

Efficiency First trade association to promote benefits of Home Performance retrofitting

2009-07-01T00:11:19Z

GOAL: 6 million new green-collar jobs.

Efficiency First is a nonprofit trade association that unites

Home Performance contractors,
residential energy consultants,
building product manufacturers
and other key members of America's growing green-collar workforce

Efficiency First advocates using the federal Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program as a standard model for efficiency retrofitting, including third-party verification. National contractor and auditor certification and accreditation should be mandated through RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network), BPI (Building Performance Institute) or other qualified accreditation agencies who conduct independent, third-party quality assurance on the work performed.

Together they intend to escalate the fight against global warming. Efficiency First was founded in 2009 to represent its members in public policy discussions at the state and national levels, to promote the benefits of Home Performance retrofitting, and to help our industry grow to meet unprecedented demand for quality home retrofitting services.

Our mission is to collaborate with legislators, government agencies and professional organizations in the advancement of a performance-based market for energy efficiency that will enable rapid growth in our industry while maintaining profitability and quality of service.

"Our goal is to see a steady run rate of
10 million home retrofits per year by 2020."

According to the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, residential buildings alone generate over 20 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption in the United States.

Because the vast majority of America's 128 million homes do not operate anywhere near peak efficiency, large-scale retrofitting of existing residential buildings will play a key role in achieving significant greenhouse gas reductions, while lowering residential energy bills, improving indoor air quality and thermal comfort, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating millions of new jobs for American workers.

The home retrofitting industry can achieve a 25% or greater decrease in non-renewable energy consumption by America's housing sector, leading to a 5% decrease in the country's overall carbon emissions - equivalent to taking half of all current passenger cars off the road.

The industry will employ at least 1.25 million American workers directly, and with the inclusion of manufacturing and other supporting industries, will generate up 6 million new green-collar jobs.

Energy Star Applance Specifications for Office Equipment

2009-06-03T13:50:13Z

Performance specifications for ENERGY STAR-labeled office equipment

Office equipment labeled ENERGY STAR often must be more efficient than nonlabeled equipment when in active operation as well as during periods of inactivity. In some cases, there are additional requirements.

Equipment	ENERGY STAR specifications
Computers	Require improved efficiency over all operation modes due to use of highly efficient power supplies. Automatically enter a low-power sleep mode within 30 minutes of inactivity.
Copiers	Require improved efficiency when the product is in use. Also power down when not in use to a low energy consumption level. Depending on the speed, may be required to print double-sided pages, reducing both copying and paper costs.
Fax machines	Require improved efficiency when the product is in use. Automatically power down after 5 minutes of inactivity. Combination printer/fax machines consume half as much energy when idle as two stand-alone products.
Laptops	Require improved efficiency over all operation modes due to use of highly efficient internal and external power supplies. If left inactive, enter a low-power mode and may use 15 watts or less.
Monitors	Require improved efficiency when they are in active mode. Use 2 watts or less in sleep mode and 1 watt or less in off mode. Use up to 85 percent less electricity than standard models.
Multifunction devices	Offer copying as well as printing, faxing, scanning, and/or other capabilities. Automatically power down after 15 to 60 minutes of inactivity, depending on equipment speed. May require automated duplexing, depending on the speed.
Printers	Require improved efficiency when the product is in use. Automatically power down after 5 to 60 minutes of inactivity, depending on equipment speed. May require automated duplexing, depending on the speed.
Scanners	Require improved efficiency when the product is in use. Automatically power down after 15 minutes when not in use.
Source: EPA

Market-ready or near market-ready uses of LED lighting

2009-05-14T02:40:42Z

Commercial Signage: Commercial signage often operates 12 to 24 hours per day, consuming about 2% of the total electricity in the United States. Fluorescent signs currently account for about 48% of this market, with neon signs holding about 41%, and the remainder of the market dominated by incandescent products.

Institutional, Industrial and Commercial Lighting: LED products can have a significant impact on energy use in airport, ports and roadway lighting, where conventional fluorescent- and incandescent-lit signage is heavily used.

Retail Lighting: LEDs offer unprecedented flexibility in colors and configurations to lighting designers in creating displays and "moods" in retail settings.

Key resources pertaining to LED technology:

LED Lighting Systems, 2003 (47 pgs.), by John Bullough
Information from ENERGY STAR about high efficiency exit signs and traffic signals
Information from the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on LEDs in transportation applications and exit signs
Specifications on LED traffic signals developed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)

Decorative Light Strings for Beauty and Energy Savings

2009-05-14T02:35:14Z

If all decorative light strings sold in America this year were ENERGY STAR qualified, we would save over 2 billion kWh per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to nearly 300,000 cars!

ENERGY STAR qualified decorative light strings -- many which feature LED technology -- consume 75% less energy than conventional incandescent lights strands.

ENERGY STAR Qualified Decorative Light Strings:

Can last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent strands.
Are cool to the touch, reducing the risk of fire.
Do not have moving parts, filaments or glass, so they are much more durable and shock-resistant than other light strings.
Are available in a variety of colors, shapes and lengths.
Come with a three-year warranty, meaning fewer light string replacements.
Are independently tested to meet strict lifetime and electrical requirements.
Products labeled for outdoor use are subjected to weathering tests.
Some models deliver features such as dimming or color shifting.

When you start shopping or installing your Christmas or Holiday lighting this year...think ENERGY savings... think...

ENERGY STAR rated LED decorative light strings! You'll save at the same time you brighting your neighborhood!

MaxximaStyle for transportation, interior, industrial, emergency and personal lighting markets.

2009-05-14T02:28:32Z

MaxximaStyle offers a wide range of LED Lighting covering the transportation, interior, industrial, emergency and personal lighting markets.

LED lamps are revolutionizing the lighting market and applications since they emit a very intense glow which is brighter than incandescent lighting.

They consume one-tenth the power consumption of conventional bulbs and due to their long lifetime, rated at 100,000 hours, LED lamps severely cut down on bulb replacement activity resulting in huge power and labor savings.

LEDs emit negligible amounts of heat -- thus, cutting down on expensive heat shield installations and in the case of interior lighting air conditioning requirements. The incandescent light bulb is on its way to becoming a relic as the gas lanterns it replaced more than a century ago.

www.maxximastyle.com

Higher Rents, Greater Occupancy Rates, Lower Operating Expenses for ENERGY STAR Buildings

2009-05-14T02:23:44Z

According to the study, "Does Green Pay Off?," ENERGY STAR rated commercial buildings have sale prices 30% per sq. ft. higher than traditional buildings.

Compared to traditional buildings, owners and managers of ENERGY STAR rated buildings can expect

$2 per sq. ft. greater rents,
2% higher occupancy rates and
$0.54 per sq. ft. lower energy-related operating costs

Operating expenses from energy costs varied with Energy Star-rated buildings running $1.27 per square foot per year for energy in 2006 and non-Energy Star-rated buildings running $1.81 per square foot.

Survey results are based on findings in a study released last week. Norm Miller, a professor at the University of San Diego, and Jay Spivey and Andy Florance, the research director and CEO respectively with CoStar. They compared 223 ENERGY STAR rated Class A office buildings of at least 200,000 sq. ft. with 2,077 non-ENERGY STAR buildings of the same class and size.

Buildings with the ENERGY STAR label are among the 25% most efficient of similar buildings nationwide.