Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson on the Energy Star program, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last week. Over the past two decades, Energy Star products—selected for high energy efficiency—have saved Americans about $230 billion in utility bills and prevent more than 1.7 billion metric tons of carbon emissions. Best know for appliances, Energy Star has also extended into building as well—1.3 million homes and nearly 17,000 buildings have earned Energy Star certification. At a moment when Americans are worried about the price of power—and when any large-scale energy legislation seems impossible—Energy Star and efficiency policy is a rare bright spot for environmentalists.
“It's really important that we help Americans make smart energy choices—and that's exactly what Energy Star is doing.”
