In 2010, DOE launched a pilot program to verify the energy efficiency and water-use characteristics of selected ENERGY STAR products through laboratory testing. The pilot verification program helped ensure that ENERGY STAR products deliver the efficient use of energy and water that consumers expect, while minimizing costs and inconvenience to product manufacturers. This report summarizes the findings and lessons learned from the pilot program.

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a dual focus on energy and cost savings. These goals are reached through a combination of increasing customer awareness, partnering with over 15,000 private and public sector organizations and driving widespread technological advances in energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR recognizes three paths to increased daily energy efficiency: bringing to market new energy-efficient products, constructing efficient new homes and commercial buildings, and improving the efficiency of existing homes, commercial buildings and industrial facilities.

Information from: U.S. Department of Energy