Energy Star Program in the Residential Sector (Renewal)
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
Approved with change
02/02/2010
10/26/2009
The collection of information is approved for three years.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
02/28/2013
36 Months From Approved
02/28/2010
141,511
0
110,847
180,958
0
175,449
17,439
0
128,000
ENERGY STAR is a voluntary energy efficiency labeling program aimed at forming public-private partnerships that prevent air pollution rather than control it after its creation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced ENERGY STAR in 1992 to label energy efficient computers. Since then, EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE) have expanded the ENERGY STAR Program to promote energy efficiency in over 60 product categories such as office equipment and consumer electronics, and in commercial and residential buildings. President Obama has made energy efficiency a key element of his effort to address energy independence and reliability and climate change. Increased energy efficiency through ENERGY STAR provides cost savings to businesses and consumers, reduces greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, and increases U.S. energy security and reliability.
This ICR renewal examines information collection activities under the ENERGY STAR Program within the new home and existing home sectors. ENERGY STAR is part of EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division (CPPD) within the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR). EPA announced ENERGY STAR for New Homes in 1995 as part of its effort to promote energy efficient new home construction within the residential sector. EPA rolled out an existing homes initiative in 1999 to promote cost-effective energy efficiency retrofits. The first activity was a consumer Web site and a home energy benchmarking tool called the Home Energy Yardstick. Then in 2001, EPA launched Home Performance with ENERGY STAR. And in 2008, EPA launched an ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation program. These efforts promote home envelope improvements, (i.e. proper installation of adequate insulation, air sealing of holes and gaps into the home, and installation of energy efficient windows) proper installation of high efficiency heating and cooling equipment and duct sealing and repair.
This is the first ICR renewal for the ENERGY STAR Program in the Residential Sector. The burden estimates contained in this ICR renewal differ from those contained in the previous ICR submitted three years ago due to changes in ENERGY STAR's residential programs. Specifically, the burden has increased by 5,509 hours per year, from 175,449 hours in the previous ICR to 180,958 hours in this ICR.
EPA has added new partnership categories (e.g., HVAC Quality Installation Partners) that have collection activities associated with them. In addition, EPA has moved more of its data collection activities to Web-based tools and forms, reducing the use of paper-based collection methods. Also, EPA has added new evaluation activities to this ICR renewal.
EPA believes the burden in this ICR renewal is justified in light of the many benefits to participants, the public and the environment. Homes earning the ENERGY STAR label have been verified to be energy efficient, making it easier for consumers to identify and purchase homes that are energy efficient. Compared to a standard home, an ENERGY STAR qualified home uses substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating. In 2008 the national average annual utility bill savings was estimated to be $384 per home. In 2008 alone there were over 120,000 new homes earning the ENERGY STAR label, almost 17 percent of all new homes permitted in the U.S that year. These homes are estimated to have provided homeowners around $42 million in annual utility bill savings. This savings becomes even greater when you consider that a person lives in the same home an average of 7 to 8 years.
In 2008, the cumulative number of ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes "in the ground" is estimated to have saved U.S. homeowners $258 million in utility bills, more than 1,500 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, 155 million therms of natural gas, and over 1.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide that each year - the equivalent of having removed over a third of a million cars from the road.
Additional savings on household maintenance can also be substantial. More than 17,000 homes have been improved through state and locally sponsored Home Performance with ENERGY STAR programs. This whole-house retrofit initiative is bringing new opportunities to achieve energy savings and reduce peak loads across the U.S. Also, there are many state and local energy-efficiency sponsorship programs that provide rebates and other financial incentives to home builders that offset the verification costs associated with qualifying a home for the ENERGY STAR label.
In addition, EPA's ENERGY STAR Programs are an important part of the overall effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. President Obama has made ENERGY STAR a key element of his National Energy Policy and his climate change initiative, which emphasizes the use of market-based, voluntary partnerships with industry. ENERGY STAR is a voluntary, market-based program aimed at preventing pollution rather than controlling it after its creation. ENERGY STAR focuses on reducing utility-generated emissions by reducing the demand for energy via voluntary commitments by a wide range of organizations, public and private.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Energy Star Program in the Residential Sector: Private Sector