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ENERGY STAR programme |
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| › ENERGY STAR programme - Heat Pumps |
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| Background |
In 1992, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) launched the ENERGY STAR program as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. To be labelled with the ENERGY STAR label, the single product has to meet all energy efficiency criteria, testing and installation standards set by the programme. The label is largely recognized among U.S. consumers.
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| Impact on Heat Pump Systems |
ENERGY STAR efficiency standards have been set for two types of heat pumps:
- Air-Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs): gas or electric single package or split system residential units designed for air-heating and/or –cooling
- Geothermal Heat Pumps: single-speed, multi-speed, closed loop, open loop, and direct expansion units for air conditioning, space and hot water heating
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| Targets |
The target for ASHPs is to replace conventional heat pump systems with ENERGY STAR-labelled types to achieve up to 8% energy savings compared to new standard models sold in the U.S., and up to 20% compared to older models. For geothermal heat pumps, the programme labels models that consume about 30% less energy and are quieter than standard systems.
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| Impact & Limitation |
Firstly, the ENERGY STAR programme established energy consumption as a key criterion in the buying decision of consumers for the first time ever. However, the ENERGY STAR programme has two clear limitations:
- Voluntary character: It does not prohibit the sale of non-energy-efficient equipment but rather relies on market dynamics as the governing body for changing consumer behaviour.
- Limited scope: For now, it does not cover all types of heat pumps, namely vapour compression types for hot water heating.
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| Latest & Next steps |
The EPA and the DOE are currently drafting ENERGY STAR standards for residential water heaters which account for 17% of residential energy use in the U.S. Water heaters were last reviewed in 2003 but not addressed at that time. In May 2007, the EPA issued draft criteria currently discussed with stakeholders. Heat pump water heaters are expected to be covered by future standards. Final criteria will be released by end-2007.
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| More information: |
› ENERGY STAR website - Air-Source Heat Pumps
› ENERGY STAR website - Geothermal Heat Pumps
 Eligibility Criteria for Air-Source Heat Pumps (92 KB)
Eligibility Criteria for Geothermal Heat Pumps (141 KB)
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