The Energy Star logo is placed on consumer products that are considered to be energy efficient by international standards. The Energy Star program was established by the Clinton Administration in 1992 for US consumers and has now become an international sign of energy efficiency. Products that carry the Energy Star Label use 20-30% less energy than required by federal standards.
Do all Energy Star Appliances carry a standard percentage of energy savings?
No, different types of appliances use significantly different amounts of energy to begin with and perform varying types of functions. An easy example is a fridge, whose energy use depends on how low or high you set the cooling temperature. Whereas a less obvious example is a washing machine, whose energy consumption can be greatly increased by using hot water instead of cold. To further demonstrate my point, to be given the Energy Star Logo refrigerators must be at 30% more energy efficient than federal standards whereas washing machines only have to reduce their energy use by 10%. This means that overall the washing machine is a more efficient appliance, as it only uses energy when it is turned on, and therefore, requires less of a reduction in energy consumption because of it!
When you buy an Energy Star Appliance, are you always guaranteed to be getting the most energy efficient product?
Unfortunately no, while the Energy Star Logo will always mean the appliance is more efficient than energy guidelines, it doesn’t always mean you are getting the most efficient product. Energy Star doesn’t always realize that energy savings can be had in more ways than reducing size and capacity, such as having a slightly larger product that more people can share.
Is the Logo worth it?
Like all energy saving appliances, they save you money-so yes, it is worth it. But….do your homework get a product that suits your needs and lifestyle. An appliance that is most suitable for a family of 4 is necessarily the most suitable energy efficient appliance for a bachelor.
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