The Energy Star logo has come a long way. It’s now widely recognized by consumers and homeowners alike, and utilized by scores of Americans looking for highly efficient home electronics, appliances, lighting, and heating and cooling equipment. Not resting on its laurels, the federal Energy Star program has put a pilot program into action nationwide. It’s the Energy Star Most Efficient Label, which provides consumers with an easy way to identify the “best of the best” in terms of Energy Star-qualified equipment.
The next time you’re upgrading your air conditioner, replacing a furnace or installing a new heat pump, you’ll want to look for the Energy Star logo and the Most Efficient label because:
- Investing your money into equipment with this designation not only means you’ll save on utility bills, but the program is also designed to coax increased competition amongst manufacturers to promote the creation and innovation of even more energy-efficient equipment.
- To earn the Most Efficient Energy Star label, products must meet testing and certification processes performed by EPA-approved labs. In the past, manufacturers were allowed to test and certify products to earn the Energy Star logo. With this change, the Energy Star program can better control standards and testing procedures, which ultimately benefits consumers.
- To earn the new energy-efficient designation, products must meet strict criteria, beyond that of the minimum requirements for earning the Energy Star logo itself. Since the evolution of the Energy Star program, critics have noted that a multitude of products carry the logo, perhaps diluting the importance of the Energy Star logo. Now, the Most Efficient designation creates another tier, identifying top-performing equipment.
- Earning the designation requires that equipment meet efficiency ratings. Central forced-air furnaces must rate Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) 97 or higher. Heat pumps must have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 18 or higher and a Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) of at least 9.6. Central air conditioners must meet SEER 18 or higher.
The Energy Star logo just got better. Use the Most Efficient label as your guide, along with the advice of your local HVAC experts at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning when selecting new HVAC equipment. We serve homeowners in the greater Fresno area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about Energy Star logo and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock