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. Since then, EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have expanded the ENERGY STAR Program to promote energy efficiency in over 60 product categories 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.
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.
With the help of ENERGY STAR, American families and businesses have saved about $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of carbon pollution.
There is a program change increase in hours resulting primarily from EPA's new, more rigorous guidelines for new homes looking to earn the ENERGY STAR. Compared to homes built to the prior guidelines, homes built to the new guidelines are at least 10 percent more energy efficient. As part of these new guidelines, EPA is asking verification organizations to use four checklists (of which 3 are new) that are necessary for ensuring that critical details and systems that impact a home's efficiency, comfort, and durability are not missed or installed incorrectly during the design and construction phases.
There is a program change reduction in costs resulting from the fact that ENERGY STAR increasingly offers respondents the option of submitting information electronically. This saves them postage costs.
Please refer to Section 6(f) of the supportinig statement for additional information on both program changes and adjustments.
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.
Form 5900-269 Energy Star Program in the Residential Sector: Private Sector
ENERGYSTAR_Res_ICR_June 2014 FINAL_6 24 2014.docx
Energy Star Program in the Residential Sector: Private Sector