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ENERGY STAR Products

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  The ENERGY STAR label helps consumers identify energy efficient products and practices in over 60 product categories for the home and office.  Products earn the ENERGY STAR label by meeting the energy efficiency requirements set forth in ENERGY STAR product specifications.  These products deliver the same or better performance as comparable models while using less energy and saving money.  Federal agencies are required by law to purchase Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-designated or ENERGY STAR®-qualified products.

Visit Program Site: ENERGY STAR

Learn & Plan Topics

  • Materials, Furniture, and Furnishings Replacement

    Daily wear and tear means that materials, furniture and furnishings require periodic replacement.

  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Overview

    When seeking to make the most sustainable choice, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides the most data to inform your decision. By including the impacts throughout the product life cycle, LCA provides a comprehensive view of the environmental aspects of the product or process and a more accurate picture of the true environmental trade-offs in product and process selection.

  • Energy & Atmosphere

    Buildings and facilities rely on the operation of mechanical systems and electrical systems to maintain a comfortable indoor environmental quality for occupants. Building operations consume approximately 39% of the energy and 74% of the electricity produced annually in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Greenhouse gases are generated and released throughout the life cycle of producing and consuming fossil fuel energy. These greenhouse gases directly contribute to air pollution and climate change. Therefore, atmospheric problems can be reduced by increasing the efficiency with which energy is used‚ optimizing the use of natural energy resources‚ and understanding the effects of energy technologies on the atmosphere.

  • Energy Use of Buildings

    Buildings represent 38.9% of U.S. primary energy use (includes fuel input for production). Source: Environmental Information Administration (2008). EIA Annual Energy Outlook.

  • Energy Consumption of Buildings

    Buildings are one of the heaviest consumers of natural resources and account for a significant portion of the greenhouse gas emissions that affect climate change.  In the U.S., buildings account for 38% of all CO2 emissions. Source:Energy Information Administration (2008). Assumptions to the Annual Energy Outlook.

  • Environmental Programs

    Environmental programs help buyers identify products and services with positive environmental attributes.  Examples include ENERGY STAR, WaterSense, EPEAT, BioPreferred.  Some environmental programs are mandatory for federal buyers, while others support the achievement of E.O. 13514 and agency sustainability goals.

  • Conducting LCA

    The US Department of Energy has developed an LCA report to help evaluate the energy and environmental benefits of LEDs when compared to incandescent and fluorescent lighting. This analysis follows the four steps outlined above. When using LCA to compare equipment, it is important to establish a common unit of performance by which each will be judged.

  • Life Cycle Approach

    Materials and resources all have environmental, social and economic impacts beyond just their "use" phase in a project. Analyzing these environmental impacts and financial costs over the entire life span of a product or material is what is known as a Life Cycle Approach.

  • Improved IEQ Benefits

    Improvements in indoor environments are estimated to save $17-48 billion in total health gains and $20-160 billion in worker performance. Source: Fisk, W. (2000) Health and productivity gains from better indoor environments and their relationship with building energy efficiency. Annual Review of Energy and the Environment: 25, 537-66.

  • Buildings Impact

    Buildings are one of the heaviest consumers of natural resources and account for a significant portion of the greenhouse gas emissions that affect climate change. In the U.S., buildings account for 38% of all CO2 emissions. Source: Energy Information Administration (2008). Assumptions to the Annual Energy Outlook.

  • Space Reconfiguration and Renovation Projects

    As needs change over time, tenants often need to convert space or phase the conversion of individual space or rooms to meet these changing needs.

  • LCA Example: Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

    The US EPA has developed a guide about conducting LCA. The LCA process is a systematic, phased approach and consists of four components: goal definition and scoping, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation.

  • Sustainable Building Operations and Maintenance Services

    Follow these sustainable strategies as your space renovations are complete and the building and interiors are operated in an environmentally sustainable manner. Operations staff should endeavor to establish best practices in energy efficiency, resource conservation, ecologically sensitive products, and other sustainable practices, and implement them.

  • LCA Standards, Tools and Resources

    ISO 14040:2006 describes the principles and framework for life cycle assessment (LCA) including: definition of the goal and scope of the LCA, the life cycle inventory analysis (LCI) phase, the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase...

  • Building Systems Upgrades

    The following are Sustainable Strategies to consider as your space undergoes a building system upgrade to improve energy, water use and occupant comfort. Refer to the Share Section for a representative project Case Study to discover key practices, benefits, results and checklists.

  • Plan Section Guidance

    For each project there is a selection of issues and questions you should consider before selecting specific materials or products. This will help you and your team address the most critical sustainability concerns and opportunities for that project type; look for synergies and mitigate unintended consequences. There are ways to improve even the simplest projects, such as repainting or re-carpeting.

  • IEQ Health Risks

    Indoor contaminants such as dust mites, molds, cockroaches, pet dander, secondhand smoke and some chemicals can trigger asthma attacks. Source: Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use and Mortality: United States, 2003-05, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/ashtma03-05/asthma03-05.htm 

  • IEQ Asthma Attacks

    More than 20 million people, including over 6 million children, have asthma, accounting for over 10 million outpatient clinic visits, nearly 2 million emergency department visits and nearly 4,500 deaths annually (2000). Source: Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use and Mortality: United States, 2003-05, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/ashtma03-05/asthma03-05.htm

  • Asthma Triggers

    Indoor contaminants such as dust mites, molds, cockroaches, pet dander, secondhand smoke and some chemicals can trigger asthma attacks. Source: Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use and Mortality: United States, 2003-05

  • Asthma Prevalence

    More than 20 million people, including over 6 million children, have asthma, accounting for over 10 million outpatient clinic visits, nearly 2 million emergency department visits and nearly 4,500 deaths annually (2000). Source: Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use and Mortality: United States, 2003-05

  • Comfort

    Comfortable workers are more likely to be productive and engaged with their work than those who struggle to work in spaces that create barriers and stresses. With ever increasing needs to be mindful of the environment when designing spaces, GSA is developing practices that support both sustainability and worker comfort.

  • Recycling Bottles

    Recycling a single plastic bottle can conserve enough energy to light a 60-watt bulb for up to 6 hours. Source: Bureau of International Recycling

  • Under 10,000 SF Interiors Gut Rehab Project

    Following are Sustainable Strategies to consider as the space has or will undergo a major tenant gut rehab for projects under 10,000 SF. Note to use a current version of LEED for Commercial Interiors for tenant improvement projects over 10,000 SF. Refer to the Share Section for a represented project Case Study to discover key practices, benefits, results and checklists.

  • Materials & Resources

    In the construction and day-to-day operations of buildings, many materials and resources are used and a great deal of waste is generated.  The materials selected for use in a facility and the way they are disposed of impact the environment.

  • Spatial Equity

    Organizations today are less hierarchical and work is more team based, more mobile, and more cross functional. A key to spatial equity is that space layout and workstation standards are based on new ways of working and specific work tasks and business needs rather than organizational hierarchy.

  • Water Efficiency

    Buildings are significant users of the Earth’s potable water supply.  The goal of a responsible building operator should be to encourage a smarter use of water, both inside and outside the facility.  Indoor water use reduction is typically achieved through efficient plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances and process equipment used to heat and cool the building; outdoor water use reduction efforts should focus on water-wise landscaping.

  • Health

    Good health has both physical and psychological components. Being healthy means the absence of disease and illness, as well as feeling positive about life and work. The workplace can play a role in the health of workers by eliminating risks and creating conditions that support cognitive, emotional, and social well being.

  • Planning to Build Green

    Sustainability "means to create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations." Executive Order 13514

  • Flexibility

    Today's workplaces are often in flux. As organizations change direction or develop new services, people also move. Teams form and re-form. People move to new spaces and take on new responsibilities. The spaces themselves are transformed to meet new needs. These changes are much easier to accommodate, with less stress on people and the organization, when the workplace is designed to support flexibility.


Whole Building Analysis


Materials

  • Kitchen Appliances

    Kitchen equipment, such as dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, and water coolers, can be energy and water intensive; its important to seek out energy and water efficient models. Many newly manufactured kitchen appliances are ENERGY STAR rated, which means that they use less electricity and/or water.

  • Copy Equipment

    Copiers, fax machines and other office equipment can be energy intensive. Many newly manufactured copiers, printers, scanners and fax machines are ENERGY STAR rated, which means that they use less electricity. Consider co-locating equipment and installing supplemental ventilation or filtration system in the copy room.

  • IT Equipment

    Office equipment, such as computers and display monitors, can be energy intensive. Many newly manufactured computers and monitors are ENERGY STAR rated, which means that they use less electricity.

  • Decorative / Accent Lighting

    Decorative / accent lighting is designed to illuminate special architectural features or artwork. Decorative / accent lighting fixtures typically use energy-intensive MR16 lamps, however, there are energy-saving LEDs alternatives.

  • Laminate

    Laminate is created from layers of decorative paper and kraft paper - a strong, moisture-resistant product. These papers are treated with melamine resin or plastic coating and fused together using high heat and pressure. The name Formica is often used to describe laminate, but Formica is actually a name brand, much like Kleenex.

  • Alternative Bio-based Composite

    Bio-composites, or biodegradable composites, are the next generation of sustainable building materials. Plant fibers such as sunflower hulls, or wheat straw, combined with natural resins and binders can be used to make several different products including doors.

  • Aluminum Frame

    Window frames are one component of a window assembly. In naturally ventilated buildings window frames allow the window to be opened to bring in fresh air and closed tight to prevent intrusion. Aluminum frames are strong, less prone to warping, but typically are less energy efficient since aluminum is a good conductor of heat. Look for thermally improved aluminum window frames.

  • Toilet / Shower Accessories

    Toilet and shower accessories include soap dispensers, soap dishes, hand dryers, paper towel dispensers, trash cans, etc. These items may contain recycled content if they are made of metal or plastic. Hand dryers allow for drying without using paper products which reduces waste. Although automated paper towel dispensers typically use non-rechargeable batteries, they can also reduce waste by controlling the amount of paper dispensed.

  • Casework / Millwork

    Select casework and millwork that have sustainable attributes such as rapidly renewable, recycled content and sustainably managed forest material. Also look for products that are low-VOC and formaldehyde-free. In addition, consider ease of maintenance and durability when choosing any material.

  • Composite Wood Furniture

    Engineered wood, also known as composite wood, is man-made and includes a range of wood products that are bound together by adhesives. Plywood, particleboard, MDF and OSB are examples of composite wood.

Green Products

  • Everything 729

    • Learn & Plan Topics 29

      • Learn
      • Plan

    • Whole Building 180

    • Compare Materials 10

Procure Products 510

in the Green Procurement Compilation