If you’ve been shopping for appliances or electronics in the past few decades, you might be familiar with the blue and white ENERGY STAR logo. But do you know what it means? Keeping an eye out for it may help you save on energy costs, and if you really want to do a deep dive into the most energy-efficient appliances and electronics, ENERGY STAR could be your most helpful resource.

What is ENERGY STAR?

ENERGY STAR is a federal program operated in cooperation between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. It was established in 1992 to provide objective, standardized information about the energy consumption of consumer products and to promote energy efficiency.

Manufacturers of appliances and electronics submit their product testing data to ENERGY STAR for certification, and the models that meet the highest energy efficiency standards can be sold with the ENERGY STAR logo. ENERGY STAR also certifies newly constructed homes, commercial buildings and industrial facilities that meet high efficiency standards.

How Does a Product Become ENERGY STAR Certified?

Because so much of our energy consumption is tied to homes and buildings, ENERGY STAR has developed programs to certify these structures and encourage more energy-efficient construction.

For residential homes, ENERGY STAR has created a partnership program to help homebuilders design and build ENERGY STAR certified homes from the ground up. Supported by guidance and resources from ENERGY STAR, these homebuilders select energy-efficient features and hire an energy rating company to assist with quality control throughout the building process. Once construction is complete, the energy rating company performs its final inspection and sends the results to a home certification organization for final approval. Certified homes receive an ENERGY STAR label, which is usually placed on the electrical circuit box. 

ENERGY STAR-certified homes are built with comprehensive air sealing, energy-efficient windows and doors, high efficiency HVAC equipment, comprehensive water management systems and features that promote indoor air quality. They are at least 10 percent more efficient than homes that are built to code, but they average around 20 percent greater efficiency – and according to some studies, they sell for an average of six percent more than comparable homes that lack certification. 

New commercial buildings can also be designed to be ENERGY STAR certified, or they can be modified to meet the program’s requirements. Building features are measured and evaluated to give the building a score on the 100-point ENERGY STAR scale. To qualify for ENERGY STAR certification, the building must score a 75 or higher. Once a building is certified, it must submit to an annual energy efficiency inspection and recertification to maintain its status.

How Can ENERGY STAR Help You Save Money?

Anything you can do to reduce your energy use at home can make a difference on your energy bill. You’ll get the most bang for your buck by choosing ENERGY STAR certified products for your most energy-hungry appliances like heating and cooling systems, water heaters, clothes dryers and refrigerators. 

If you’re in the market for a specific type of appliance or device, you can use the ENERGY STAR Product Finder to search all of the available certified models. Results can be sorted by brand and product features, but they can also be ranked by efficiency to help you compare models and choose the most efficient product that meets your needs.

ENERGY STAR Rebates

You may be able to save even more by qualifying for ENERGY STAR rebates or other financial incentives. You can use the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder to search for available offers by zip code. Government agencies at the federal, state and local levels sometimes use ENERGY STAR rebate programs to help reduce the demand for energy and reach energy efficiency goals. 

If you’re looking for a new home, many online real estate websites allow you to filter results based on green features including ENERGY STAR certification. And if you’re thinking about building a new home, you can search online for local builders who are currently constructing ENERGY STAR certified homes.

Saving energy isn’t always straightforward, but the easy-to-spot blue and white ENERGY STAR logo makes it a little easier to find energy-efficient homes and products.