Energy-efficiency labeling
Energy-efficiency labeling refers to systems that provide consumers with information regarding the energy consumption of products, allowing them to make informed purchasing decisions. These labels highlight the trade-off between initial costs and long-term savings, as energy-efficient products may have higher upfront expenses but lower operating costs due to reduced energy use. Such labeling initiatives aim to promote energy conservation and minimize environmental impact by encouraging manufacturers to develop more efficient products. In the U.S., for instance, the EnergyGuide label informs consumers about the estimated annual energy costs of home appliances, while the Energy Star program helps identify energy-efficient options across various categories, including appliances and new homes.
Globally, similar labeling systems exist, such as the EU Energy Label and TCO certification, which address a wide range of products and consider factors like ergonomics and recyclability in addition to energy consumption. These initiatives not only assist consumers in saving money but also contribute to reducing pollution and conserving natural resources. Over the years, energy-efficiency labeling has extended to various household items, including windows and insulation, reflecting a broader commitment to sustainability across different sectors.
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Energy-efficiency labeling
DEFINITION: Consumer product labeling systems that provide information on the amounts of energy used or conserved by particular products
Energy-efficiency labeling enables consumers to take energy consumption into account when they make purchases, allowing them to see how an energy-efficient option might be more expensive in the short run but less expensive in the long run because of reduced energy consumption over time.
Energy rating systems were created in an effort to encourage the conservation of energy and thereby minimize the created and resources consumed when fuel is burned for power. Primary energy sources include coal, and petroleum products, natural gas, water, uranium, wind, sunlight, and geothermal energy. Coal, petroleum and petroleum products, and natural gas are fossil fuels, which are considered nonrenewable energy sources because what is consumed takes millions of years to replace. Fossil fuels are burned to power motor vehicles, heat homes, and generate electrical power.
In the United States, every major home appliance sold carries an EnergyGuide label. A requirement of the Federal Trade Commission, this label shows how much it will cost the consumer to use the appliance for one year. The estimated cost is based on an average cost per kilowatt-hour in the appliance retailer’s local area. (Electrical power is measured and billed by kilowatt-hours. A watt-hour is a unit of energy supplied steadily through an electric circuit for 1 hour; 1 kilowatt-hour is equal to 1,000 watt-hours.) One purpose of EnergyGuide labeling is to encourage manufacturers to make products that use the lowest amounts of electricity possible or that use electricity as efficiently as possible. EnergyGuide and similar labels allow consumers to compare the operation costs of appliances, so that they can make informed choices; although a particularly energy-efficient appliance may cost more than one that is less efficient, consumers may be more likely to buy the product that saves energy because of its lower operating costs over time. Using less electricity not only saves the consumer money but also helps to reduce pollution and slow the depletion of natural resources.
Energy-efficiency labeling that appears on electronic equipment shows how energy-efficient computers and other devices consume less electricity, even when turned off, than standard equipment. (When plugged into electrical outlets, many electronic devices and other appliances draw standby power even when turned off. Audiovisual equipment in standby mode accounts for about 60 percent of a home’s “leaking electricity.”) Energy-efficiency labeling systems identify equipment that goes into “sleep” mode, or draws less energy, when not in use.
Energy-efficiency ratings systems have expanded to encompass many kinds of equipment used in homes, including air conditioners and windows. Newly built homes are often rated on their overall energy efficiency. The amount of energy needed to heat or cool a building depends in large part on how well insulated the building is; the windows and the quality of their installation can also be a big factor, as poorly installed or poor-quality windows can allow heated or cooled air to escape or allow hot or cold outside air to enter the building. Many of the products used to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings, such as windows and insulation, receive energy-efficiency ratings.
In 1992, the year of the United Nations Earth Summit, a number of energy-efficiency labeling programs were launched in an effort to lower the amount of electrical power consumed and the amount of pollution generated by electricity plants that burn fossil fuels. These programs include Energy Star, TCO certification, and the EU Energy Label. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy jointly established the Energy Star program, and Energy Star labeling subsequently became an international standard employed in Canada, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Taiwan. It helps consumers make energy-efficient choices in household appliances, new homes, and home-improvement projects. The program claims to have saved consumers in the United States $14 billion on their utility bills and 170 million metric tons' worth of emissions in 2023 alone.
The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees, a national trade union center, created TCO certification. This standard, which applies to computer monitors and other office equipment marketed in the European Union, takes into account ergonomics, emissions, and recyclability as well as energy consumption. The European Union itself launched the EU Energy Label, which covers a wide range of energy-consuming devices, from lightbulbs to major home appliances and automobiles. In 1998, China established its Certification Center for Energy Conservation Products, which issues a voluntary energy-efficiency endorsement label for major home appliances and consumer electronics.
Bibliography
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