Recently in Energy Star Programs Category

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.

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.

California Energy Commission (CEC) -- The 2005 Title 24 Standards

http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/ Select 2005 Standards, Select Residential manual or Non Residential manual. Energy Efficiency Hotline: 1-800-772-3300 (California only)

EPA ENERGY STAR® New Homes Program

The ENERGY STAR® New Homes Program is nationwide.
http://www.energystar.gov/homes
or call 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937)

CalCERT™, California Certified Energy Rating and Testing Services

CalCERT is a California Energy Commission approved HERS Provider.
http://www.calcerts.com
or call 1-916-985-3400

CHEERS®, The California Home Energy Efficiency Rating Services

CHEERS is a California Energy Commission approved HERS Provider.
http://www.CHEERS.org
or call 1-800-4-CHEERS (1-800-424-3377)

CBPCA, The California Building Performance Contractor Association

CBPCA is a CEC approved HERS Provider.
http://www.cbpca.org
or call 1-888-352-2722

California Green Builder (CGB)

The Building Industry Institute (BII) established CGB's requirements for new homes for significant improvements in energy efficiency, water and wood conservation, indoor air quality and comfort, and on-site waste diversion
http://www.cagreenbuilder.org

New Solar Homes Partnership

The California Energy Commission funds solar electricity systems on NEW homes.
http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/nshp/

California Solar Initiative

The California Public Utilities Commission funds solar electricity systems on businesses and EXISTING homes.
http://www.sce.com/csi

Build It Green

A professional non-profit membership organization promoting healthy, energy and resource-efficient buildings in California.
http://www.builditgreen.org

U.S. Green Buildings Council (USGBC)

The USGBC's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is one of the accepted benchmarks for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.
http://www.usgbc.org
or call 1-800-340-8912

Technical Specs for Energy Star Qualified Homes

Homes built under 2001 T-24 code had until December 31, 2006 to complete construction.

All homes completed on or after January 1, 2007 must be 15% more energy efficient than the latest T-24 code (2005 T-24). Homes that were enrolled in a utility rebate program by December 31, 2005 had until January 1, 2007 to be qualified using the old ENERGY STAR guidelines. All homes enrolled in a program after January 1, 2006 must be qualified using the new guidelines and have a Thermal Bypass Checklist inspection. However, for the period January 1, 2007 to June 30, 2007, homes in this category will not be denied the ENERGY STAR label due to non-compliance with requirements of this additional inspection. As of July 1, 2007, these homes must pass the Thermal Bypass Inspection to earn the ENERGY STAR label.

The current ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes guidelines require that homes be 15% more energy efficient than the code under which they are permitted and be inspected by a CEC certified third party HERS rater. Sampling is allowed and shall follow the CEC HERS protocols.

Energy Star Qualified Homes Guidelines

The ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes guidelines requirements also include:

• Verification of adherence to the EPA ENERGY STAR Thermal Bypass Checklist/CEC Quality Installation Insulation merged protocols.
• All cooling equipment shall be sized according to the latest editions of the ACCA Manuals J and S, ASHRAE 2001 Handbook of Fundamentals, or the equivalent computation procedure.
  • Maximum oversizing of air conditioners is 15%.
  • Equipment oversizing calculations shall use 99.0% and 1.0% outdoor design temperatures as published in the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals for most representative city. However, a prevailing outdoor design temperature used by the local HVAC industry that can be documented with available weather data is an acceptable alternative. The Indoor temperature shall be 75ºF for cooling and 70ºF for heating.
  • Infiltration rate shall be selected as tight.
  • Indoor and outdoor coils shall be matched in accordance with ARI standards.
• Ductwork leakage must be less than 6 cfm to outdoors per 100 square feet of conditioned space, though duct leakage tests can be waived if ducts and equipment are located in conditioned space and the home's envelope leakage is less than 0.25 CFM 50 per square foot of building envelope. (Meeting T-24 tight duct standard of 6% or less leakage of total air flow satisfies this requirement.)

Additional requirements bulleted above can be used to achieve the 15% performance margin. EPA also recommends, but does not require, that ductwork be located in conditioned space with a minimum of R-4 insulation to prevent condensation and moisture problems. Updated on February 28, 2007

FURTHER INFORMATION:

California Building Performance Contractors Association

CBPCA trains and certifies contractors for a better approach to energy efficiency, safety, comfort, and value. California Building Performance Association is a non-profit organization supporting energy efficiency and the residential contracting industry.

Utility Company Programs for Energy Star Ratings

Advanced Home Program by Southern California Gas Company

Performance Programs. Projects qualify when they exceed 2005 Title-24 compliance by 15%. California Energy Star® New Homes Program SoCal Gas Company

Advanced Home Program by San Diego Gas & Electric

The California ENERGY STAR® New Homes Program is a performance based program designed to encourage builders to construct single family and multi-family buildings that are energy efficient. San Diego Gas & Electric

SoCal Edison

California Energy Star New Homes Program Recognized as a National Leader in building conservation. SoCal Edison

PG&E ENERGY STAR® Qualified New Homes Program

PG&E works with builders to ensure that ENERGY STAR New Homes exceed California's rigorous energy efficiency PG&E

Find product information and savings calculators for a wide array of ENERGY STAR products for businesses

Product Categories

The mission of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is to strengthen America's energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality in public-private partnerships that: enhance energy efficiency and productivity; bring clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies to the marketplace; and make a difference in the everyday lives of Americans by enhancing their energy choices and their quality of life.

EERE also works with stakeholders to develop programs and policies to facilitate the deployment of advanced clean energy technologies and practices.

	Energy for America's future The National Energy Policy promotes the development and deployment of energy systems and practices that will provide current and future generations with clean, efficient, affordable, and reliable energy.
	Protecting the environment through energy efficiency    By working closely with private industry, governments and consumers the ENERGY STAR® program was established in 1992 to identify energy efficient products and reduce carbon emissions.
	Making homes more energy efficient  The Weatherization Assistance Program works to reduce the burden of energy prices on the disadvantaged by making low income homes more energy efficient.
	Maintaining energy for the future Department initiatives help industry maintain the infrastructure to deliver energy to the consumer now, and for the future.
	Learn How You Can Make Every Day Earth Day Explore ways to save energy and improve the environment by taking simple steps around your home.

Learn more

Energy Savers

Federal Energy Management Program

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Emission Reductions Registry

National Energy Policy

Weatherization Assistance Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently awarded an Irvine, Calif. non-profit developer an Energy Star award for its contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency.

Jamboree Housing Corporation received the Energy Star’s Excellence in Affordable Housing award for its efforts from 2003 to present to incorporate energy-efficient appliances or practices at its developments for workforce families and lower-income seniors that began with 348 apartment units, to 154 currently under construction, and 746 under renovation.

“The EPA applauds Jamboree Housing for its leadership in energy efficiency by bringing EnergyStar products to the population it serves,” said Deborah Jordan, the EPA’s Air Division director for the Pacific Southwest. “EnergyStar products save energy, which reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prevent pollution and lower energy bills.”

Jamboree serves families and seniors with a household income between 30-80 percent of the area median income, with an emphasis in the 50-60 percent range. The median household income for residents living in Jamboree communities is $19,000.

The EPA awarded 12 Excellence in Affordable Housing awards nationwide that include two national winners. The award recognizes governments, non-profits, non-governmental organizations or utilities that have made exceptional or market-leading contributions toward advancing energy efficiency in affordable housing through the use of Energy Star-qualified products and appliances or Energy Star’s residential construction guidelines.

The national winners were two of seventy-nine annual Energy Star award winners. The award categories included Sustained Excellence, Partner of the Year, Energy Star Award for Excellence and Special Recognition. The seventy-nine award winners were selected from over 12,000 organizations that partner with the Energy Star program to improve the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses.

Energy Star Solutions

In 2007, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $16 billion on their energy bills and avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles. To date, more than 2.5 billion Energy Star-qualified products have been sold, and nearly 840,000 new homes and 4,000 office buildings, schools, hospitals, and public buildings have earned the Energy Star. Energy Star-qualified products, homes, and buildings provide the quality, features, and personal comfort today's consumers expect.

Energy Star was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Star offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money, and help protect the environment for future generations.

For more information visit: http://www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937). (San Francisco, Calif. -- 05/08/2008) –

Energy Star updates in 2008:

• Expansion of eligible product categories for CFLs,
• New criteria limits, for the first time, the amount of mercury that CFLs can contain to less than 5 milligrams for most bulbs,
• Includes candelabra-based CFLs
• Incorporates a third-party testing program for all bulbs effective in November of 2008,
• Tightens lamp color requirements and
• Adds high-heat testing requirements for reflector products.

Revised ENERGY STAR® criteria for CFLs takes effect December 2, 2008 - 270 days from issuance of criteria. The criteria for CFLs were last updated in 2003.

These CFL products under the ENERGY STAR® label — which include new categories for CFLs that contain less mercury, new candelabra products and more rigorous testing procedures — are expected to save Americans approximately $30 billion in utility costs over the next five years. More stringent criteria, combined with a greater diversity of energy-saving product options, will allow Americans to more efficiently use energy in their homes.