ENERGY STAR®

OVERVIEW OF 2014 

ACHIEVEMENTS

ENERGY STAR AND ITS PARTNERS MAKE GREAT STRIDES IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Advancements in energy-efficient products, practices, and services help individuals and organizations protect the climate and public 

health while strengthening the economy. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports innovative environmental solutions 

through public-private partnerships such as ENERGY STAR. Since 1992, the ENERGY STAR program has reduced GHG emissions with 

real-world, cost-effective approaches. Together with its partners, ENERGY STAR continues to drive energy waste reductions and advance 

markets for widespread energy efficiency throughout the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

ENERGY STAR is a key part of EPA’s ongoing efforts to develop national programs, policies, and regulations for reducing air pollution. 

ENERGY STAR is the simple choice for energy efficiency. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or home that is independently 

certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. Today, with awareness at more than 85%, 

ENERGY STAR is a widely recognized symbol for energy efficiency, helping families and businesses save $360 billion on utility bills, while 

reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2.5 billion metric tons since 1992.

This document provides a brief overview of key ENERGY STAR achievements in 2014.

RESULTS FOR 2014 

In 2014, millions of consumers and 16,000 partners tapped the value of ENERGY STAR and achieved impressive financial and environmental 

results. Their investments in energy-efficient technologies and practices reduced utility bills by $34 billion and will continue to provide cost 

savings for years to come. 

Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, prevented more than 300 million metric tons of GHG emissions1 (see Fig. 1) in 2014 alone— 

providing over $12 billion in benefits to society due to reducing damages from climate change.2

Fig. 1. ENERGY STAR Program Benefits Have Doubled in the Last Five Years3

1 All reductions in annual GHG emissions are reported in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2

e).

2 Societal benefits are based on the social cost of carbon which monetizes the damages associated with an incremental increase in carbon emissions in a given year, 

including (but not limited to) changes in net agricultural productivity, human health, property damages from increased flood risk, and the value of ecosystem services. 

Source: Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon, United States Government. 2013. Technical Support Document: Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon 

for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866. November. United States Government. Available online at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/

assets/inforeg/technical-update-social-cost-of-carbon-for-regulator-impact-analysis.pdf.

3 Graphs reflect cumulative program benefits since the program began in 1992.

250

500

750

1,000

1,250

1,500

1,750

2,000

2,250

2,500

(Billion kWh) 2,750

3,000

3,250

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Energy Savings GHG Emissions Savings

2012 2013 2014 0

500

250

750

1,000

1,250

1,500

1,750

2,000

2,250

2,500

2,750

0 2012 2013 (MMTC02e)

2014
ENERGY STAR FOR PRODUCTS

As the simple choice for energy efficiency, ENERGY STAR makes 

it easy for consumers and businesses to purchase products that 

save them money and protect the environment. EPA remains 

focused on maintaining program integrity, while expanding 

ENERGY STAR’s role as a trusted resource in the fight against 

climate change. 

Certified Products. Americans purchased more than 320 million 

ENERGY STAR certified products in 2014 across more than 70 

product categories for a cumulative total exceeding 5.2 billion 

products since 1992 (see Fig. 2). Today, more than 85% of the 

American public recognizes the ENERGY STAR label. 

ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2014. By the end of 2014, more 

than 1,800 models from 164 manufacturers were recognized as 

the best of ENERGY STAR for energy efficiency and innovation. 

Categories included televisions, computer monitors, clothes 

washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, heating and cooling 

equipment, ventilation and ceiling fans, and windows. 

ENERGY STAR Product Specifications. EPA updated performance 

requirements for clothes washers, set-top boxes, windows/doors/ 

skylights, residential water heaters, central air conditioners, air 

source heat pumps, ventilating fans, and televisions. The ENERGY 

STAR specification for battery charging systems was sunset. 

Clothes dryers were added to the program.

Third-Party Certification for ENERGY STAR Products. 

All products that earn the ENERGY STAR are subject to strict 

testing and certification requirements before they can carry 

the label. As of the end of 2014, there were more than 50,000 

certified product models. A subset of products is also subject to 

verification testing administered by EPA-recognized certification 

bodies. In 2014, EPA disqualified 57 models based on the results 

of this post-market testing. The program’s emphasis on testing 

and third-party product review ensures that consumers can trust 

ENERGY STAR certified products to deliver the energy savings 

promised by the label.

Fig. 2. More than 5.2 Billion ENERGY STAR Certified Products 

Purchased Since the Program Began*

Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR Campaign. 

The 2014 ENERGY STAR Change the World Tour brought public and 

private organizations together for a series of community-based 

service projects to make a difference in people’s lives and the 

environment through energy efficiency. With the help of ENERGY 

STAR, these projects lowered utility bills, upgraded low-income 

housing and community buildings, and educated communities 

about the importance of energy efficiency, demonstrating how 

energy efficiency can be a pathway to positive change. 

Through 2014, more than 3.2 million individuals took the ENERGY 

STAR pledge to make energy-efficient changes at home, 

representing more than 15 billion pounds in GHG emission 

reductions. In addition, retailers, manufacturers, and efficiency 

program sponsors worked together to exceed EPA’s challenge to 

sell 20 million ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs. Continuing into 

2014, Team ENERGY STAR featured themes from the Sony Pictures 

film, The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Thousands of kids from Boys & 

Girls Clubs of America, representing the Torch Clubs, participated in 

projects to save energy at their clubs and throughout the community 

as part of their quest to “Be Your Own Amazing with ENERGY STAR.”

ENERGY STAR FOR HOMES

Through ENERGY STAR, EPA works to increase the energy 

efficiency of the nation’s new and existing housing stock to costeffectively reduce GHG emissions, while lowering Americans’ 

utility bills and improving the comfort of their homes. 

ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Help Reduce GHG Emissions.

More than 86,000 new homes earned the ENERGY STAR in 

2014, bringing the total number of certified homes to nearly 1.6 

million (see Fig. 3). Since EPA began labeling new homes in 

1995, American homeowners have saved over $4.7 billion on 

their energy bills and reduced GHG emissions by more than 24 

million metric tons. In 2014 alone, families living in ENERGY STAR 

certified homes saved in excess of $600 million on their utility 

bills and prevented three million metric tons of GHG emissions. 

Homes certified under these requirements are at least 15% more 

efficient than those built to code4 and include additional energysaving features to deliver a performance advantage of up to 30% 

compared to typical new homes.

ENERGY STAR Certified Units in New Multifamily 

High-Rise Buildings. Since units in multifamily high-rise buildings 

first became eligible to earn the ENERGY STAR label in 2011, over 

8,500 individual units have been certified in 93 buildings. These 

projects must meet EPA’s energy efficiency requirements and be 

designed to be at least 15% more efficient than the building energy 

code. In 2014, 2,000 multifamily high-rise units in 23 buildings were 

certified. When combined with multifamily low-rise homes, more 

than 122,000 multifamily housing units have been certified to date. 

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR. In 2014, an estimated 

93,000 homes were improved through the whole house retrofit 

program, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES). This 

work was performed by 48 locally sponsored programs and more 

than 2,100 participating contractors across the nation. Since 

the program’s inception, more than 400,000 homes have been 

improved through HPwES. The HPwES program is administered 

by the U.S. Department of Energy, with support from EPA.

4 The national requirement is benchmarked to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). In states that adopt the 2012 IECC, the program is benchmarked to be 15% more efficient 

than the 2012 IECC.

HVAC and Other** Lighting* * * Home Office Equipment

Appliances Home Electronics Office Equipment

5.0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0

Units Purchased (Billions)

2012 2013 2014

5.5

* Program began in 1992.

** Other category does not include roofing purchases.

*** Lighting category does not include purchases of light bulbs. 
Fig. 3. Nearly 1.6 Million Homes Nationwide Have Earned the 

ENERGY STAR Label

Energy Efficiency Guidance and Tools for Homeowners.

In 2014, Americans viewed the residential section of the ENERGY 

STAR website nearly two million times to find information about 

home efficiency improvements. They also used EPA’s Home 

Energy Yardstick and Home Energy Advisor tools to assess their 

homes’ energy use and get recommendations to help reduce 

utility bills and improve comfort. EPA improved the functionality 

of the ENERGY STAR Home Energy Advisor in 2014 to provide 

homeowners customized, prioritized recommendations for energy 

improvements and to allow them to track their progress.

Affordable Housing. In fiscal year 2014, approximately 4,800 

ENERGY STAR certified homes were built within the affordable 

housing sector using funding from the U.S. Department of Housing 

and Urban Development’s HOME Investment Partnerships 

Program. Nearly 6,000 manufactured homes earned the ENERGY 

STAR label in 2014, for a cumulative total of over 63,000. In 

addition, more than 13,000 ENERGY STAR certified homes have 

been built by Habitat for Humanity, including nearly 1,100 homes 

built in 2014 by 132 Habitat for Humanity affiliates nationwide. 

ENERGY STAR FOR BUSINESS

More than 7,400 organizations have partnered with EPA to deliver 

GHG emissions reductions, advance their sustainability goals, 

and increase financial value through ENERGY STAR’s program for 

business. These ENERGY STAR partners demonstrate practical 

and proven solutions to increase the efficiency of buildings and 

industrial plants and serve as examples for others to follow. 

Benchmarking: Now Standard Practice in Commercial Buildings. 

By the end of 2014, more than 400,000 properties were benchmarked 

using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager as a standard way to 

measure, track, assess, and report on the energy and water 

consumption across more than 40% of the nation’s commercial 

building space (see Fig. 4). With an increasing number of cities 

leveraging EPA’s Portfolio Manager tool to implement their own 

climate and sustainability policies, benchmarking energy use has 

become a standard practice in many buildings across the nation.

1-100 ENERGY STAR Score Launched for Multifamily Properties. 

Through a multi-year partnership with Fannie Mae, ENERGY 

STAR Portfolio Manager debuted a new 1-100 ENERGY STAR 

score for multifamily properties. The unprecedented launch 

enables existing apartment and condominium properties, which 

house 30% of the U.S. population, to measure energy performance. 

As ENERGY STAR certification became available in the fall of 2014, 

more than 20 properties earned this designation by the year’s end.

ENERGY STAR Certification for Top Performance. To celebrate 

15 years of ENERGY STAR certification for buildings, EPA launched 

special recognition for multiple-building certifications. More than 

300 organizations achieved membership in Certification Nation, 

with 11 organizations certifying more than 150 buildings each. 

In total, more than 25,000 buildings and 130 industrial plants had 

earned ENERGY STAR certification by the end of 2014. More than 

120 new design projects designated as Designed to Earn the 

ENERGY STAR were also certified as ENERGY STAR through 2014.

Battle of the Buildings Competitors Team Up to Power Down. 

The 2014 competition hosted a field of more than 100 teams, who 

worked to cut energy waste across their participating buildings. 

Teams ranged in size from five buildings to more than 2,000 

buildings. As of the competition midpoint, Team Walgreens led 

the field with a 10.7% reduction, and a Kroger warehouse had 

the largest individual reduction of 37%. 

Industrial Efficiency Gets Boost from Treasure Hunts. EPA 

released a new tool, the ENERGY STAR Treasure Hunt Guide, as 

an important way to engage employees in identifying low-cost 

energy-saving opportunities from behavioral, operational, and 

maintenance actions. This popular guidebook is increasingly 

adopted by organizations as step-by-step guidance on how to 

organize and execute an energy treasure hunt to find significant 

energy savings in their facilities.

Industrial Plants Challenged to Improve. By the end of 2014, 

the number of industrial sites committed to the ENERGY STAR 

Challenge for Industry grew, while 306 sites met or exceeded their 

targets by achieving an average 20% reduction in energy intensity.

Reaching Larger Audiences. Through the ENERGY STAR 

partnership, service and product providers, utility companies, 

energy efficiency program administrators, and federal, state, 

and local governments continue to use ENERGY STAR tools to 

connect customers and stakeholders with the value of pursuing 

energy reductions. 

Fig. 4. Steady Growth in Building Space Benchmarked

Number of Homes to Earn the ENERGY STAR

Cumulative Homes Built Annual Homes Built

1,600,000

2011 2013 20144

Square Footage (millions)

Buildings

Square Footage (millions) Buildings

2013

40,000

35,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

0.0

2011 2014

450,000

350,000

300,000

250,000

150,000

50,000

0

100,000

200,000

400,000

Cumulative square footage represents the unique building floor space benchmarked in ENERGY 

STAR Portfolio Manager. Building space benchmarked over multiple years is only counted once in 

the cumulative total.
ENERGY STAR®

 PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

For more information, visit www.energystar.gov.

All values and figures for 2014 are preliminary as of April 1, 2015. Source for all figures: EPA Climate Protection Partnerships Division.

PARTNER OF THE YEAR –

SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE

AEP Ohio 

Columbus, OH 

AEP Texas Central 

Corpus Christi, TX 

Allergan, Inc. 

Irvine, CA 

Arizona Public Service 

Phoenix, AZ 

Baltimore Gas and Electric 

Company 

Baltimore, MD 

Beacon Capital Partners, LLC 

Boston, MA 

Bentall Kennedy 

Seattle, WA

Brandywine Realty Trust 

Radnor, PA 

BOMA International

Washington, DC 

Burton Energy Group 

Alpharetta, GA 

CalPortland Company 

Glendora, CA 

CBRE Group, Inc. 

Los Angeles, CA 

Cenergistic 

Dallas, TX 

CenterPoint Energy 

Houston, TX 

Colgate-Palmolive Company 

New York, NY 

Columbia Gas of Ohio 

Columbus, OH 

ComEd

Chicago, IL

Des Moines Public Schools 

Des Moines, IA 

DIRECTV 

El Segundo, CA 

DTZ

Washington, DC

Eastman Chemical Company 

Kingsport, TN 

Ecova 

Spokane, WA 

EnergyCAP, Inc. 

State College, PA 

Energy Inspectors 

Las Vegas, NV 

Evergreen Public Schools 

Vancouver, WA 

Fanning Howey 

Celina, OH 

Focus on Energy 

Madison, WI 

Food Lion 

Salisbury, NC 

General Motors Company 

Detroit, MI 

Habitat for Humanity of Greater 

Nashville 

Nashville, TN 

Habitat for Humanity of Metro 

Denver 

Denver, CO 

Hanesbrands Inc. 

Winston Salem, NC 

Hines 

Houston, TX 

Hoshizaki America, Inc. 

Peachtree City, GA 

Houston Habitat For Humanity 

Houston, TX 

ITW Food Equipment Group 

Glenview, IL 

J.C. Penney Company, Inc. 

Plano, TX 

JLL 

Chicago, IL 

KB Home 

Los Angeles, CA 

Kenton County School District 

Ft. Wright, KY 

Kohl’s Department Stores 

Menomonee Falls, WI 

LG Electronics 

Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Liberty Property Trust 

Malvern, PA 

Loudoun County Public Schools 

Broadlands, VA 

Manitowoc Foodservice 

New Port Richey, FL 

Memorial Hermann Health System 

Houston, TX 

Merck & Co., Inc. 

Kenilworth, NJ 

Meritage Homes Corporation 

Scottsdale, AZ 

Milford Housing Development 

Corporation 

Milford, DE 

Nationwide Marketing Group 

Winston Salem, NC 

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities 

Trenton, NJ 

New York State Energy 

Research and Development 

Authority 

Albany, NY 

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital 

New York, NY 

Nissan North America, Inc. 

Franklin, TN 

North Penn School District 

Lansdale, PA 

Northeast Energy Efficiency 

Partnerships (NEEP) 

Lexington, MA 

Panasonic Eco Solutions 

Newark, NJ 

Pella Corporation 

Pella, IA 

PepsiCo, Inc. 

Purchase, NY 

Philips 

Somerset, NJ 

PSEG Long Island 

Uniondale, NY 

Raytheon Company 

Waltham, MA 

Saint-Gobain 

Valley Forge, PA 

Samsung Electronics 

Seoul, South Korea 

Sears Holdings Corporation 

Hoffman Estates, IL 

Servidyne 

Atlanta, GA 

Southern California Edison 

Rosemead, CA 

Southern Maryland Electric 

Cooperative (SMECO) 

Hughesville, MD 

Staples, Inc. 

Framingham, MA 

The Boeing Company 

Chicago, IL 

The Home Depot 

Atlanta, GA 

The NH Energy Efficiency Team

Manchester, NH

TIAA-CREF 

New York, NY 

Toyota Motor Engineering & 

Manufacturing North America, Inc. 

Erlanger, KY 

TRANSWESTERN 

Houston, TX 

USAA Real Estate Company 

San Antonio, TX 

Verizon 

New York, NY

Vornado Realty Trust 

New York, NY

PARTNER OF THE 

YEAR – CLIMATE 

COMMUNICATIONS

Des Moines Public Schools 

Des Moines, IA 

General Motors Company 

Detroit, MI 

JLL 

Chicago, IL 

KB Home 

Los Angeles, CA 

LG Electronics 

Englewood Cliffs, NJ 

Metro Lighting 

Brentwood, MO 

Samsung Electronics Co. 

Seoul, South Korea

PARTNER OF THE YEAR 

AEP Southwestern Electric 

Power Company (SWEPCO)

Shreveport, LA

Best Buy Co., Inc.

Richfield, MN

Brighton Homes

Boise, ID

Bristol-Myers Squibb

New York, NY

Building Energy, Inc.

Star, ID

Cherokee County Schools

Murphy, NC

Cobblestone Homes

Saginaw, MI

Consumers Energy

Jackson, MI

Corning Incorporated

Corning, NY

Eaton’s Cooper Lighting 

Business

Peachtree City, GA

Efficiency Vermont

Burlington, VT

EnergyPrint

St. Paul, MN

Enersafe, LLC

Linwood, MI

Fannie Mae Multifamily

Washington, DC

Fulton Homes

Tempe, AZ

Goby

Chicago, IL

Good Earth Lighting

Mount Prospect, IL

Illinois Energy & Recycling Office 

at the Department of Commerce 

and Economic Opportunity 

Springfield, IL

Intertape Polymer Group, Inc.

Sarasota, FL

Jacksonville Building Science, LLC

Jacksonville, FL 

Kentucky School Boards 

Association

Frankfort, KY

Kilroy Realty Corporation

Los Angeles, CA

Mansfield Independent School 

District

Mansfield, TX

MaxLite

West Caldwell, NJ

New Mexico Gas Company, 

a TECO Energy Company

Albuquerque, NM

Parmenter

Miami, FL

PECO

Philadelphia, PA

PEG

Fairfax, VA

Pentair Aquatic Systems

Sanford, NC

Potomac Electric Power 

Company (“Pepco”)

Washington, DC

PPL Electric Utilities

Allentown, PA

Providence Homes

Jacksonville, FL

Sacramento Municipal Utility 

District

Sacramento, CA

Salt River Project Agricultural 

Improvement and Power District

Tempe, AZ

Scott County Schools

Georgetown, KY

SkyeTec

Jacksonville, FL

SL Green Realty Corp

New York, NY

SoCalGas

Los Angeles, CA

Soft-Lite Windows

Streetsboro, OH

The Kroger Co.

Cincinnati, OH

The Lighting & Products 

Sponsors of Mass Save®

Westwood, MA

Tishman Speyer

New York, NY

TopBuild Home Services

Daytona Beach, FL

Whirlpool Corporation

Benton Harbor, MI

AWARDS FOR 

EXCELLENCE

ENERGY STAR Promotion

Columbia Association

Columbia, MD

National Grid

Waltham, MA

ProVia 

Sugarcreek, OH

The United Illuminating 

Company

Orange, CT

Retailing

Metro Lighting

Brentwood, MO

Affordable Housing

NeighborWorks® TOLEDO 

REGION

Toledo, OH