Energy Star appliances have been voluntarily labelled by their manufacturers to designate that they are energy efficient; these appliances use fewer resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Energy Star label tells consumers that they can save energy and monetary costs, and can also conserve natural resources like water if they use energy efficient appliances.

Consumers who use Energy Star appliances in their homes can expect significant savings in both monetary and resource usage, as noted above, that's true. However, the appliances themselves are equally as good at performing the tasks they do, if not better than previous appliances not affiliated with the Energy Star programme. Therefore, consumers benefit with more efficient and better performing appliances as well when they choose the Energy Star label.

From the US to Europe

Although the Energy Star programme is affiliated with the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy, the Energy Star Program is now something for European consumers to look to as well, with the European Union encouraging the Energy Star mark be applied to office products, currently. Computers, monitors, and other office equipment have been the first products chosen to be modified for Energy Star compliance in the UK, but will also soon be applied to home electronics, as well as eventual inclusion of major appliances, lighting, home electronics, and now new homes and commercial and industrial buildings.

How can UK consumers benefit from Energy Star appliances?

With the UK's recent inclusion in the Energy Star Programme, UK residents, too, can benefit from the cost savings of Energy Star appliances. Among the first in line struggling to make their products Energy Star compliant for consumers are the electronics companies, so that they can remain competitive as homeowners become increasingly conscious of the environment and conservation efforts. Because of this, a new Energy Star sticker, Version4, will be released in May of 2010; televisions receiving the sticker will be required to be 40% more efficient than previous year models. Guidelines are also going to become increasingly stringent, with 2011's Version5 Energy Star sticker requiring that appliances at that point be 65% more efficient than previous years' models.

Energy Star appliances of the future?

Although specifics have not yet been stated as to what other appliances (beyond electronics) will be Energy Star rated in the UK, it's likely that manufacturers will scramble to make their appliances qualify as consumers become more concerned about the environment and energy conservation -- not just for reasons of cost and lower energy bills, but for the impact these appliances will have on overall energy conservation efforts.

What concerned citizens can do now

Take a look at your own appliances and see which may be consuming more energy than is needed to get the job done. Replacing appliances that are just several years old can often mean a major savings in energy and resource costs. Not only does this save you money, but it also reduces your "carbon footprint." The carbon footprint denotes the personal impact you have on the environment, positively or negatively, based upon behavior including responsible consumption of resources.

One of the first and easiest things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint even before Energy Star appliances are available on the market is to replace energy-hogging incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs. Not only do these bulbs save significant costs in energy resources and money, but because they last so much longer than incandescent bulbs do, they also produce much less waste.

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