Buildings account for about 40 percent of energy consumed, mainly for heating, cooling and powering electric appliances. Appliance and equipment efficiency standards have served as one of the nation’s most effective policies to improve energy efficiency and to save consumers energy and money. Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings can make a sizeable contribution to reducing energy demand and carbon emissions. Read below to find practices, products and guidelines in saving optimal efficiency through high performing appliances.
High Performance Features
Energy Policy Act of 2005
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 is a bill passed by the United States Congress on July 29, 2005, and signed into law by President George W. Bush on August 8, 2005, at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The act, described by proponents as an attempt to combat growing energy problems, changed US energy policy by providing tax incentives and loan guarantees for energy production of various types, including extensive language on appliances.
To view the Energy Policy Act, click here.
Modern Electrical System Wiring
An out-of-date or overloaded electrical system significantly raises a building’s risk of fire-related insurance claims. Therefore, insurers typically consider buildings that still rely on fuse boxes, ungrounded power outlets, or wiring that is more than 10 years old to be more dangerous and more difficult to insure than buildings that implement updated, efficient systems and Energy Star Appliances approved by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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Energy-Saving Practices & Solutions
- ENERGY STAR Appliance Database
Find ENERGY STAR products, learn new ways to save energy, find tools to help you save, and get rebates and offers
- DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards Program
Provides a resource to help consumers make informed decisions when selecting products in order to save energy and money. eeCompass has easy-to-use tools that allow consumers to research, evaluate and compare covered products by brand and model, along with a number of other performance attributes
- Electricity Use in the Commercial Kitchen
Identify patterns of appliance use as well as to assess the total energy consumption of these establishments. The electricity consumption in selected commercial kitchens was significantly higher than current literature estimates
- U. S. Department of Energy’s Compliance Certification Database
The Compliance Certification Database houses certification reports and compliance statements submitted by manufacturers for covered products and equipment subject to Federal conservation standards. The database offers consumers an easy-to-use search function for existing records in a readily downloadable format.
Author: DTE Energy
In this case study provided by DTE Energy, learn how restaurants are using energy efficient appliances to save energy, how to find energy efficient appliances, and how to find DTE Energy’s incentives for efficient appliances for commercial building types.