Energy Star Windows Moving to EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking over as “the brand manager for the Energy Star products program,” according to a recently announced plan to coordinate efforts with the Department of Energy to expand and enhance both Energy Star and the new National Building Rating Program.
The announcement, which came out just prior to GlassBuild America, also notes a new “Super Star” category of product is being added beyond Energy Star. According to the new partnership summary, “performance levels will be set using established and consistent principles for the Energy Star brand. Generally, products in the top 25 percent will qualify as Energy Star and the top 5 percent will qualify as Super Star.”
In addition to the new effort to recognize superefficient products, the announcement states that the Energy Star products program will be enhanced through expanded coverage, more frequent updates and enhanced efforts on product testing.
Currently, the Energy Star program is co-managed by EPA and DOE. EPA handles certain product categories and DOE handles others, including the Energy Star windows, doors and skylights program. With the change, Energy Star windows, doors and skylights will move over to EPA, which will take over responsibility for “marketing, outreach, monitoring and verification, and setting the performance level(s).”
Speaking at an energy efficiency town hall forum held in conjunction with GlassBuild last week, current DOE program manager for Energy Star windows said talks to transition responsibilities would start soon, but he could not yet give a timetable for the change to take effect.
While EPA takes over Energy Star, DOE will manage the National Building Rating Program, “consisting of building test procedures, building rating tools, and consumer-oriented building labels,” the summary explains. “DOE will establish all Federal test procedures for buildings, which will include ‘asset,’ and ‘operational’ characteristics, and benchmark buildings against similar buildings.” EPA, however, will be the brand manager when the “Energy Star” is applied to …
To view the rest of this article, originally published in the October 2009 issue of Window & Door magazine, click here: http://www.windowanddoor.com/news-item/government/energy-star-windows-moving-epa
Written by Window & Door Magazine – October 2009
