The goal of the regional ENERGY STAR Products initiative is to permanently change the regional residential marketplace for high-efficiency residential products including ENERGY STAR refrigerators, room air conditioners, clothes washers, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), light fixtures and ceiling fans so that product sales and consumer preferences are reflected in increased market share, updated equipment efficiency standards and building code requirements.

To access NEEP's Technical Information Network for Solid State Lighting (TINSSL) Web site, click here.

To learn more about the ENERGY STAR Product Initiative, browse the following sections:

Initiative Status

Initiative Goals

Initiative Activities

NEEP's activities are funded by initiative sponsors and a grant from the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR Program.

For more information, contact Melissa Lucas, NEEP's Residential Programs Manager (781-860-9177, ext. 15).

 

 

 

ENERGY STAR Products Initiative Status

 

Begun in 1998 and now spanning an eight-state region in New England, New York and New Jersey, NEEP facilitates this regional initiative through the ENERGY STAR Products Working Group. Through regional communication and coordination, initiative sponsors have successfully leveraged resources to increase the availability and purchase of ENERGY STAR products significantly above national levels. Increasingly, initiative sponsors are engaging retailers and manufacturers to increase the role of industry resources to effectively promote ENERGY STAR products across the region.

Leveraging of resources towards program goals also involves coordination of regional marketing and promotional activities with national ENERGY STAR campaigns, national meetings and discussions, sometimes with other regions. In some cases, initiative sponsor marketing and retailer outreach is coordinated through jointly procured contractors via a joint-implementation subgroup. Other sponsors operate independent marketing and retailer outreach, but in communication with the region. NEEP coordinates the initiative with national activities including the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

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ENERGY STAR Products Initiative Goals

The strategic goals of the ENERGY STAR Products initiative are to:

• Increase energy savings from ENERGY STAR lighting and appliances by increasing regional market share for lighting and maintaining it for appliances;


• Retain ENERGY STAR  appliance product choices and their availability at a broad range of retail outlets as the ENERGY STAR specifications for some products change on January1, 2007;


• Increase consumer and retailer awareness and understanding of the benefits of ENERGY STAR lighting and appliances; and


• Update existing and secure adoption of new ENERGY STAR specifications to increase energy savings opportunities in appliances and lighting product quality and performance.

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ENERGY STAR Products Initiative Activities

NEEP will achieve these outcomes through:

Regional Initiative Working Group: For all sponsors, NEEP will convene and facilitate periodic Working Group meetings, teleconferences, and information exchanges; prepare and distribute meeting agendas and minutes; prepare and distribute initiative materials and reports; and serve as an information resource. 

Coordinated Strategies: Through the Working Group, NEEP will facilitate communication with an eye toward coordination of initiative sponsor program strategies and activities, including coordination with related regional and national program efforts. In 2007, NEEP and its sponsors, whether individually or as part of the joint-implementation subgroup, will continue to leverage mid- and upstream participants to increase sales, product choices and retailer locations, as well as educate retailers and consumers about ENERGY STAR product benefits through marketing and training. NEEP will also assist sponsors to coordinate ENERGY STAR product promotions with national campaigns and other energy efficiency program efforts (new construction, home performance). 

Lighting Product Testing and Quality Assurance: On behalf of initiative sponsors, NEEP will participate in national projects and discussions to achieve a high level of compliance with ENERGY STAR specifications for Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) and fixture product performance and reliability. In 2007, these include the completion of the Program for the Evaluation and Analysis of Residential Lighting (PEARL) testing cycles, and, through the PEARL Board, participation in the on-going ENERGY STAR CFL and Fixture specification revision process. The PEARL Board will work with the Department of Energy (DOE) to transition from PEARL testing to the third-party quality assurance (QA) testing component of the final CFL specification that will take effect in late 2007. NEEP will also work with initiative sponsors to monitor and comment on changes to ENERGY STAR lighting specifications in 2007.

Strategic Development and Information Exchange: NEEP will facilitate consideration of new opportunities, which may include consumer electronics, new lighting technologies (e.g., solid state lighting), pool pumps, ENERGY STAR appliances (given new specifications and emerging upstream opportunities) and lighting for emerging markets (small business, multifamily, low-income) and clothes dryers. NEEP will also recommend to initiative sponsors strategies to achieve energy savings from new technologies and market opportunities, in coordination with national and regional efforts. NEEP will monitor and/or explore messaging and national program activities regarding CFL recycling.  Finally, NEEP will coordinate initiative activities with building energy codes updates (e.g., lighting requirements) and appliance efficiency standards (e.g., federal appliance standard for refrigerators). 

Market Research and Analysis: NEEP, on behalf of the sponsors, will continue to work with U.S. DOE, efficiency programs in other regions and industry stakeholders to develop a market share tracking system that meets national as well as regional needs. NEEP will also explore impact assumptions for potential new measures (electronics, solid-state lighting, etc.) as well as residential lighting persistence. NEEP also intends to pursue funding opportunities to address priority research topics.

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