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Join the Movement
Information About ENERGY STAR
Keep Your House Warm in the Winter
About the ENERGY STAR Partnership
Join the Movement
Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR
Join the City of Naperville, and be a part of a national campaign encouraging all Americans to join a growing community of 2,796,298 individuals who have pledged to take small, individual steps that have thus far led to reducing 8,842,303,899 lbs. of greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change.
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Information About ENERGY STAR
This segment features information about ENERGY STAR and why consumers should consider, and seek products with the ENERGY STAR label.
What is ENERGY STAR?
ENERGY STAR is the trusted, government-backed symbol for energy efficiency helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices.
The ENERGY STAR label was established to:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants caused by the inefficient use of energy; and
- Make it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy-efficient products that offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance, features, and comfort.
How Does EPA Choose which Products Earn the Label?
Products can earn the ENERGY STAR label by meeting the energy efficiency requirements set forth in ENERGY STAR product specifications. EPA establishes these specifications based on the following set of key guiding principles:
- Product categories must contribute significant energy savings nationwide.
- Qualified products must deliver the features and performance demanded by consumers, in addition to increased energy efficiency.
- If the qualified product costs more than a conventional, less-efficient counterpart, purchasers will recover their investment in increased energy efficiency through utility bill savings, within a reasonable period of time.
- Energy efficiency can be achieved through broadly available, non-proprietary technologies offered by more than one manufacturer.
- Product energy consumption and performance can be measured and verified with testing.
- Labeling would effectively differentiate products and be visible for purchasers.
How Does EPA decide when to Revise Specifications?
Generally, a market share of ENERGY STAR qualified products in a particular category of 50 percent or higher will prompt consideration for a specification revision. However, other factors are in the decision process, such as:
- A change in the Federal minimum efficiency standards.
- Technological changes with advances in energy efficiency which allow a revised ENERGY STAR specification to capture additional savings.
- Product availability
- Significant issues with consumers realizing expected energy savings
- Performance or quality issues
- Issues with Test Procedures
ENERGYSTAR.com
ENERGYSTAR.com offers consumers information and recommendations for energy savings in the home. The site has a multitude of energy savings tips and programs that individuals and families can incorporate into an everyday routine, whether setting the thermostat at 68 degrees to turning the light out in an unattended room.
Click ENERGYSTAR.com and find out more!
Keep Your House Warm in the Winter
One of the best methods of conserving energy and assuring that your home is warm and comfortable during the winter months is to add insulation to your home.
There are several common types of insulation — fiberglass cellulose, rigid foam board, and spray foam. When correctly installed with air sealing, each type of insulation can deliver comfort and lower energy bills during the coldest times of the year.
Insulation performance is measured by R-value — its ability to resist heat flow. Higher R-values mean more insulating power. Different R-values are recommended for walls, attics, basements and crawlspaces. Insulation works best when air is not moving through or around it. So it is very important to seal air leaks before installing insulation to ensure that you get the best performance from the insulation.
To get the biggest savings, the easiest place to add insulation is usually in the attic. A quick way to see if you need more insulation is to look across your uncovered attic floor. If your insulation is level with or below the attic floor joists, you probably need to add more insulation. The recommended insulation level for most attics is R-38 (or about 12–15 inches, depending on the insulation type).
For additional information, see Recommended Levels of Insulation to determine what is most cost-effective for your home. For comprehensive information, check the Department of Energy’s online Insulation Guide .
In houses with forced-air heating systems, ducts are used to distribute air throughout the house. In a typical house, however, about 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. The result is higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house warm and comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set.
Because some ducts are concealed in walls and between floors, repairing them can be difficult. However, exposed ducts in attics, basements, crawlspaces, and garages can be repaired by sealing the leaks with duct sealant (also called duct mastic). In addition, insulating ducts that run through spaces that get cold in winter (like attics, garages, or crawlspaces) can save significant energy.
Additionally, if you are replacing your forced-air heating and cooling equipment, make sure your contractor installs the new system according to ENERGY STAR quality installation guidelines . A quality installation will include a thorough inspection of your duct system, including proper sealing and balancing of ductwork, to help ensure that your new system delivers the most comfort and efficiency.
About the ENERGY STAR Partnership
 The City of Naperville, through its voluntary partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will work to improve energy efficiency and fight global warming. Collaborating with ENERGY STAR offers Naperville’s business and residents a strategic, corporate energy management program, which will help us enhance financial health and aid in preserving the environment for future generations.
ENERGY STAR offers extensive energy conservation information, ranging from straightforward tips and products that consumers can utilize at home, to conservation resources dedicated to business, organizations, and manufactures. Please follow the links for information regarding:
Naperville’s partnership with ENERGY STAR is interactive, as we encourage all visitors to the ENERGY STAR Web site, to pledge to Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR . By taking the ENERGY STAR pledge, small steps will make a big difference in the fight against global warming.
Come back to this page soon, as we will announce ENERGY STAR programs and campaigns that save money and save our environment.
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