General FAQs

1. What is ENERGY STAR^®?

• ENERGY STAR is an international symbol of energy efficiency.
• The ENERGY STAR mark helps consumers quickly and easily identify home appliances and other energy-using equipment that save energy. ENERGY STAR identifies products as the top high efficiency performer in their category.
• ENERGY STAR is a natural fit as one element of Canada's response to the Climate Change Initiative.
• ENERGY STAR is a dynamic government/industry partnership that makes it easy for businesses and consumers to save money and protect the environment.

2. What is ENERGY STAR in Canada?

• ENERGY STAR in Canada is a voluntary arrangement between Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency and organizations that manufacture, sell or promote products that meet the ENERGY STAR levels of energy performance.
• ENERGY STAR in Canada is administered by Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE)
• ENERGY STAR mark is on many products sold in Canada.
• ENERGY STAR mark, where applicable, is placed on the EnerGuide label.
• While EnerGuide provides buyers with the ability to shop and compare energy ratings, ENERGY STAR goes one step further and identifies products that meet prescribed higher levels of energy efficiency.

3. Complementary role of the ENERGY STAR mark to Canada's EnerGuide label

• The ENERGY STAR mark, which is placed on the product and/or incorporated in its literature, indicates that the product meets a premium level of energy efficiency making it easy for consumers to choose the most energy-efficient products sold in the Canadian marketplace.
• ENERGY STAR labeling complements EnerGuide.
• The EnerGuide for Equipment Program requires that EnerGuide labels be affixed to major household appliances to help the Canadian buying public compare the energy consumption of products sold in Canada.
• The fundamental feature of the ENERGY STAR mark is that it is an endorsement label for the most energy-efficient products sold in the marketplace.
• The ENERGY STAR mark on the EnerGuide label plays a complementary role to the EnerGuide label for applicable products - refrigerators, washers, dishwashers and room air conditioners.
• The ENERGY STAR mark on the EnerGuide label helps buyers identify the product as a top energy performer.

4. ENERGY STAR labeled products which will be labeled and promoted in Canada are:

• appliances (refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers and bottled-water coolers);
• residential heating and cooling equipment (residential boilers, gas furnaces, air-to-air heat pumps, central air-conditioning units, louvred room air conditioners with no reverse cycle, programmable thermostats and dehumidifiers);
• office equipment (computers, monitors, printers and fax machines, copiers, scanners and multi-function devices, bottled water coolers);
• consumer electronics (TVs, VCRs, TV-VCR combinations, audio equipment and DVD products)

5. How do products qualify for the ENERGY STAR mark?

• Qualifying ENERGY STAR labeled products must meet and exceed minimum Canadian Federal energy efficiency standards according to a prescribed performance level for each product area.
• Most products that qualify in the US automatically qualify in Canada

6. Why buy ENERGY STAR labeled products (saves money and the environment)?

• By choosing ENERGY STAR labeled products, buyers save energy and money on utility bills, reduce air pollution without sacrificing the features, versatility or style they expect from high-performing products.

7. Where to find ENERGY STAR labeled products?

• Already, ENERGY STAR labeled products are found in retailers' showrooms across Canada.
• Consumers can look for the ENERGY STAR mark on product packaging, literature, product advertising and, of course, on the products themselves - in some cases, you may also find it on the EnerGuide label.

Q's and A's on Purchasing

1. Which ENERGY STAR-labelled products are available in Canada?

• Office equipment - computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, photocopiers, scanners, multifunctional devices
• Residential appliances - clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, bottled water coolers
• Heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment (HVAC) - louvered air-conditioners, central air conditioners, residential gas furnaces, residential boilers, air-to-air heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, dehumidifiers, programmable thermostats
• Consumer electronics - TVs, VCRs, TV-VCR combinations, DVD players, audio products
• Lighting and signage - exit signs

2. What products are currently under consideration for ENERGY STAR in Canada?

Ventilating and ceiling fans, cordless telephones, answering machines, set-top boxes, compact fluorescent lights, traffic signals, windows, entry doors, skylights, commercial clothes washers, solid door refrigerators and freezers and distribution transformers.

3. What is the difference between the EnerGuide and ENERGY STAR labels?

EnerGuide provides information on the energy performance of products, allowing the buyer to compare energy performance ratings for different models. ENERGY STAR identifies the most energy-efficient models that meet or exceed premium levels of energy. For some products (refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers and room air conditioners), the ENERGY STAR mark may appear on the EnerGuide label.

4. Who Manufacturers ENERGY STAR-labelled products and where can I buy them?

ENERGY STAR products are made by many major manufacturers and can be purchased from retailers and dealers across the country. The web site lists some of the manufacturers and retailers for a selected category of products. Your best bet is to look for the ENERGY STAR symbol when you are shopping. You may find it on the product or in the product brochure, or there may be a product description stating that a product meets ENERGY STAR specifications.

5. Do ENERGY STAR-labelled products cost more?

Prices of products vary, but the ENERGY STAR label does not make the product more costly. Consumers will save money on their utility bills over the long term. To encourage the purchase of ENERGY STAR-labelled products, some retailers may offer incentives from time to time.

6. How much will I save by using ENERGY STAR-labelled products?

You can use the simple energy cost calculator located on the ENERGY STAR web site to determine what energy and cost savings you can expect.

7. What makes ENERGY STAR-labelled products better?

In addition to costing less to operate, ENERGY STAR-labelled products are better from an environmental perspective. They use less energy to do the same job as non-ENERGY STAR-labelled products, thereby creating fewer greenhouse gas emissions - the major cause of climate change. They also help reduce other pollutants that contribute to problems such as urban smog and acid rain.

8. Do manufacturers have to pay to use the ENERGY STAR label?

The manufacturer has to pay for the costs of demonstrating that the product meets ENERGY STAR specifications. Many products are regulated under Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations and they must exceed the minimum performance standard set out in the Regulations to qualify for ENERGY STAR. Products not covered by the Regulations must achieve similar premium levels of energy efficiency.

9. Do the products have to be tested to ensure that they meet the specifications?

Yes. The manufacturer must provide proof that the product meets the specifications.

10. How should I specify ENERGY STAR when ordering from a manufacturer?

You can require that the product "shall meet the ENERGY STAR specification for energy efficiency"and provide a detailed explanation of the specification.

11. Where can I get more information on purchasing ENERGY STAR-labelled products?

See the Energy Efficient Products Purchasing Guide.