Purchasing Energy Star Products

Whenever you venture out to a store to purchase a new appliance you may notice something on the appliances that label it an Energy Star product. You may wonder what this label refers too. The label of Energy Star means that the product conforms to certain guidelines established by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Department of Energy. Energy Star products are more energy efficient than other products and therefore will save you money in addition to saving the environment. These products can help families save up to a third on their utility bills and in 2005, Americans who had Energy Star products helped to curb greenhouse emissions equivalent to 23 millions cars while saving $12 billion dollars.

If you are looking to remodel your home and wish to invest in Energy Star products, you can hire a professional to perform a home energy audit. If you are more of a do-it-yourself person, gather your last 12 energy bills and go to Energystar.gov. By clicking on Home Improvements, you can find a calculator called the Energy Start Home Energy Yardstick. This calculator will help you to compare the energy use in your home with energy use from similar homes. It will also give recommendations to improve your energy consumption.

There are over 50 categories that are part of the Energy Star family. Some of the categories include Appliances, Home Envelope (Windows, doors, etc.), Lighting, Home Electronics, and Office Equipment. By going to the Energy Star website and clicking on products link you can many of the categories of Energy Star products. Upon clicking on a category you can view a list of products that conform to Energy Star guidelines. Keep in mind that there are new specifications in development if you are looking for a product, but do not see it listed on the site. A person can also find calculators on the site to help you determine if the products you already own are energy efficient or if it is time to trade them in. Finding Energy Star products is easy. A person can find and purchase most of the Energy Star products locally at a home improvement store or specialty stores, in the cases of windows and doors. By purchasing Energy Star products a person can save 30% or over $600 on their energy bills. Furthermore, a person may qualify for tax credits or sales tax exemptions.

There are also Energy Star homes. These homes are built to qualifications that exceed the 2004 International Residential Code. Homes that qualify as Energy Star homes may have tighter duct work, tighter windows, more effective insulation, and of course, Energy Star lighting and appliances. Also found on the Energy Star website is a list of builders that are qualified to build Energy Star homes.

Saving energy is important to everyone, whether it be for the sake of saving money, improving the environment, or both. By researching and purchasing products with that meet Energy Star guidelines, a person can save money and the environment without even having to try.