How a Product Qualifies
for the ENERGY STAR Label
ENERGY STAR is the label created by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) to help consumers identify prod-
ucts that save energy. These products help
save money on utility bills while preventing
air pollution. Manufacturers or retailers
can volunteer to place the ENERGY STAR
label on those models that meet or exceed
the energy-efficiency criteria set by EPA
and DOE. They can also use the label in
their advertising. Today, most leading
manufacturers of home heating and
cooling equipment are producing high-
efficiency systems that qualify for the
ENERGY STAR label.
SAVING THE EAtff-i SAVING touR MONEY
How Do I
Learn More
To help you find out more about ENERGY
STAR labeled heating and cooling equip-
ment, EPA offers additional information
on the technologies, a list of product mod-
els that have earned the label, and a con-
sumer's guide to purchasing high-efficien-
cy heating and cooling equipment.
The toll-free ENERGY STAR Hotline at
1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937) also has
information on other products for your
home and office that carry the ENERGY
STAR label, including office equipment,
light fixtures, and home appliances.
ENERGY STAR is a program of:
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
U.S. Department of Energy
Heating and Cooling
Your Home: Saving
with ENERGY STAR®
SAVING THE EARTH. SAVING YOUR MONEY
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA 430-F-97-039
July 1997
Why Buy ENERGY STAR®
Heating and Cooling
Equipment?
It's a good investment.
Although ENERGY STAR heating and cooling
products initially cost more than standard
systems, owners of the equipment realize
"returns" in the form of lower utility bills.
The higher up-front cost of ENERGY STAR
products is really an investment - one that
can yield annual returns of 15 to 40 percent.
These returns are greater than you are likely
to realize on other investments such as CDs,
bonds, or mutual funds.
To increase the resale value of your home.
Investing in energy-efficient systems can
add value to your home on the market.
Prospective buyers pay attention to utility
bills, and they are willing to pay more for a
home that costs less to operate.
.
To reduce air pollution.
Heating and cooling most homes involves
the burning of fossil fuels. When these fuels
are burned, whether in utility power plants
or in the home system, they create gases
such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and
nitrogen oxides.
Carbon dioxide contributes to global climate
change. In fact, the average home is
responsible for more carbon dioxide emis-
sions than the average car.
When you use less energy, you create less
air pollution, which helps save the earth
and your money.
ENERGY STAR is a registered mark
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Commonly
Asked Questions
How do I know when it's time to replace
my heating or cooling system?
If your equipment is broken, of course,
the time is now. But most people don't
realize that many systems have a lifetime
of 12 years or less. As your equipment
gets older, its efficiency can decrease dra-
matically. You may also notice that it gets
noisier and needs repairs more often. If
your system is over five years old, you
should have a heating and cooling con-
tractor check your system for mainte-
nance or replacement. And, by taking
action now, you'll have more time to make
an informed choice and to arrange for
special financing.
Once I've decided to replace my old
equipment, what kind do I choose?
Work with your contractor to determine the
best technology for your home. Once
you've decided on the equipment type (a
heat pump or furnace, for example), investi-
gate whether ENERGY STAR would be a
good investment for you.
Will these ENERGY STAR products
reduce the comfort level in my home?
No. ENERGY STAR products function in
the same manner as your existing prod-
ucts, but do so while consuming less
energy. Some ENERGY STAR products may
actually improve the comfort level of your
home by maintaining a constant tempera-
ture evenly throughout the day.
The ENERGY STAR® Label is on Residential
Heating and Cooling Equipment
You may have seen the ENERGY STAR® label on appliances or computers, but
didn't realize what it meant. The ENERGY STAR stands for high efficiency
and energy savings. The ENERGY STAR label is also on home heating and
cooling equipment. ENERGY STAR heating and cooling products have the same
features as standard products, but they aUo have additional energy-saving compo-
nents or technology. They offer some of the largest savings to consumers of all the
ENERGY STAR products. Remember to look for the ENERGY STAR label — the
symbol for energy efficiency.
These are the minimum efficiency levels for ENERGY STAR equipment. Refer to this
chart when you are considering buying heating and cooling equipment for your home.
Air-Source Heat Pumps
Gas-Fired Heat
Pumps
7HSPF
12 SEER
(or higher)
1.2 COP (H)
1.25 COP (C)
(or higher)
2.8 COP (H)
13EER
(or higher)
Boilers
(oil or gas)
Programmable
Thermostats
85AFUE
(or higher)
2 programs
4 temp, settings each
Central Air Conditioning
Furnaces (oil or gas)
Geothermal
Heat Pumps
12 SEER
(or higher)
90AFUE
(or higher)
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency(AFUE), Heating Seasonal Performance Factor(HSPF), and Coefficient of Performance (COP) (H) are measures
of heating efficiency. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio(SEER), Energy Efficiency Ratio(EER), and COP (C) are measures of cooling efficiency.
The higher the efficiency level for any particular product, the more energy it will save.
Commonly
Asked Questions
Does a model that qualifies for
ENERGY STAR label cost more than
standard efficiency equipment?
Yes. But spending money on a new ENERGY
STAR system can be one of the best investments
you make. To see this, consider the "second
price tag" of a product, namely the cost of
the energy needed to run the equipment.
Every year, you will save hundreds of dollars
more on your energy bills with ENERGY STAR
than if you buy standard equipment. Think
of these savings — which will be additional
dollars in your pocket — as a return on the
investment you have made in your new
energy-efficient system. For example, investing
$1,100 in an ENERGY STAR furnace and central
air conditioning system instead of a standard
one could yield a return of 15 percent. Your
returns could be greater, depending on the
type of equipment you purchase and the
area of the country in which you live.
How can I afford to buy ENERGY STAR if
I don't have the extra cash right now?
It's easy! There is special ENERGY STAR
financing available for ENERGY STAR equip-
ment, with lower interest rates and longer
terms than most conventional financing
offered by heating and cooling contractors.
Call the ENERGY STAR Hotline listed on the
back of this brochure; they can tell you where
to call to apply for ENERGY STAR financing.
Will these ENERGY STAR products require
more maintenance?
No. They should receive the same preventive
maintenance as standard efficiency equipment.
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