The Media Room
2010/37 (b)
Backgrounder
ENERGY STAR® Qualification Process
ENERGY STAR is the international symbol of premium energy efficiency. Introduced in Canada in 2001, the ENERGY STAR symbol is displayed on 50 types of products, including lighting, home electronics, major appliances, windows, doors, skylights, office equipment and residential heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment.
Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) Office of Energy Efficiency administers the use of the mark in Canada through an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
In Canada, 21 types of products that can be labelled as ENERGY STAR-qualified are subject to the Energy Efficiency Regulations. Accordingly, NRCan requires verification of the products’ energy consumption by a third-party certification agency. For certain other unregulated products (heat-recovery ventilators; windows, doors, skylights and decorative light strings), NRCan requires testing by approved agencies to ensure that ENERGY STAR performance levels are met. NRCan actively monitors these controls to ensure that only ENERGY STAR-qualified products are entitled to use the mark.
ENERGY STAR is a trusted consumer brand in Canada. A 2009 Ipsos Reid survey conducted on behalf of Natural Resources Canada found that consumers strongly preferred products with ENERGY STAR qualification over those without. For example, the survey found that seven out of ten consumers will select an ENERGY STAR-qualified product over other models when selecting a flat screen television or a refrigerator.
In order to ensure that the ENERGY STAR brand remains trusted and relevant to Canadians, Natural Resources Canada is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to expand and improve the program. This includes more comprehensive product testing and verification and more frequent revision of existing specifications.
These and other procedures will ensure that Canadians can look with confidence to the ENERGY STAR brand in selecting products that are among the most energy-efficient performers on the market.
Media may contact:
Mary-Ann Dewey-Plante
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-996-2007 or
613-218-6961 (mobile)
or
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-992-4447
NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media/index-eng.php.