Initiated in 1992, ENERGY STAR is a joint U.S. government program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. It is also intended to help Americans save money in their energy bills.
History
ENERGY STAR started out as a voluntary labeling program in which the EPA identified and promoted energy-efficient products that would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as computers and monitors.
In 1995, this list was expanded to additional office equipment products and residential heating and cooling equipment.
In 1996, the EPA partnered with the DOE to label major appliances that promoted energy efficiency (e.g., refrigerators, dishwashers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers), office equipment (e.g., copiers, printers, fax machines), lighting, home electronics, and more.
The ENERGY STAR label has been extended to cover new homes and commercial and industrial buildings.
Resources:
About ENERGY STARList of ENERGY STAR Qualified Products