History of Energy Star in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 6, 2025

Energy Star is a program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to promote energy efficiency. Products meeting specific EPA energy-efficiency criteria can display the ENERGY STAR logo. This helps consumers easily identify and purchase energy-saving products, reducing energy consumption and contributing to environmental protection.

1992: Energy Star Program Established

In 1992, the Environmental Protection Agency established the Energy Star program under the authority of the Clean Air Act.

1995: Program Expansion

In 1995, the Energy Star program was significantly expanded to include labels for residential heating and cooling systems and new homes.

1999: Small Business Recognition Award

In 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established an annual award to recognize small businesses that demonstrate abilities to reduce waste, conserve energy, and recycle, using resources and ideas outlined in the Energy Star program.

2000: Annual Impact Survey

In 2000, the Consortium for Energy Efficiency was directed by members to begin an annual survey of the Energy Star program's impact.

2005: Energy Policy Act Amendment

In 2005, the Energy Policy Act, section 131, amended the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, section 324, further defining the authority of the Energy Star program.

July 20, 2007: Energy Star 4.0 Specifications Effective

On July 20, 2007, Energy Star 4.0 specifications for computers became effective, requiring more stringent standards and 80 Plus Bronze level or higher power supplies.

November 2008: Improved Television Specifications

In November 2008, television specifications were improved to limit on-mode power use, in addition to standby power, which is limited by current specifications. Standby power consumption for televisions must be 3 watts or less.

2008: Appliance Savings

As of early 2008, average refrigerators needed to achieve 20% savings over the minimum standard and dishwashers needed to achieve at least 41% savings to qualify for Energy Star. The EnergyGuide label was used to show the annual cost of operation compared to other models.

May 15, 2009: Computer Server Specifications Version 1.0 Released

On May 15, 2009, the EPA released Version 1.0 of the Computer Server specifications, covering standalone servers with one to four processor sockets.

July 1, 2009: Energy Star 5.0 Specifications Effective

On July 1, 2009, Energy Star 5.0 specifications became effective.

March 2010: GAO Report on Certification Process

In March 2010, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report based on covert testing, finding that the Energy Star product certification process was vulnerable to fraud and abuse due to its self-certification nature. However, the GAO found no evidence of consumer fraud relating to the quality or performance of Energy Star qualified products.

February 1, 2011: Accredited Testing Requirement Added

On February 1, 2011, the EPA/DOE added the requirement that all products registered under the Energy Star service mark must be tested by an AB (Accredited Body) or CB (Certification Body) Laboratory.

2011: Third-Party Certification Instituted

In response to a GAO report, the Environmental Protection Agency instituted third-party certification of all Energy Star products starting in 2011.

December 16, 2013: Computer Server Specifications Version 2.0 Effective

On December 16, 2013, a second tier to the Energy Star specification adding active state power and performance reporting for all qualified servers, as well as blade and multi-node server idle state requirements became effective. The Version 2.0 Energy Star specification for Computer Servers came into effect on December 16, 2013.

September 10, 2014: Energy Star 6.1 Specifications Effective

On September 10, 2014, Energy Star 6.1 specifications became effective.

2016: Employment in Energy Star Manufacturing

According to the U.S. Energy and Employment Report for 2016, 290,000 American workers are involved in the manufacture of Energy Star certified products and building materials.

2016: Product Verification Testing Results

In 2016, 1,881 product models were subject to verification testing with an overall compliance rate of 95% under the Energy Star program.

2016: Homeowner Savings

In 2016, U.S. homeowners living in Energy Star certified homes saved $360 million on their energy bills.

March 2017: Proposed Budget Elimination

In March 2017, the Trump Administration proposed a budget that would eliminate the Energy Star program, prompting widespread support for the program.

2017: Independent Certification Bodies and Laboratories

As of 2017, there are 23 independent certification bodies and 255 independent laboratories recognized for purposes of Energy Star product certification and testing.

2017: Projected Employment Growth

The U.S. Energy and Employment Report projects that employment in energy efficiency will grow much faster than other areas of the energy sector—9 percent in 2017 vs. average projected growth of 5 percent across all of the energy sector—and that Energy Star will be an integral part of that market.

November 16, 2018: Energy Star 7.1 Specifications Effective

On November 16, 2018, Energy Star 7.1 specifications became effective.

2018: Expiration of EU agreement

In 2018, a 15-year agreement between Energy Star and the European Union expired. Additionally, a previous agreement with the European Free Trade Association also ended in 2018.

June 17, 2019: Energy Star specification for Enterprise Servers Version 3.0 effective

On June 17, 2019, the Version 3.0 Energy Star specification for Enterprise Servers came into effect.

October 15, 2019: Version 8.0 Specification Finalized

On October 15, 2019, the Version 8.0 specification for computers was finalized.

October 15, 2020: Version 8.0 Specification Effective

On October 15, 2020, the Version 8.0 specification for computers became effective.

2020: Commercial Building Energy Use Impact

Energy Star estimated in 2020 that energy use in commercial buildings accounts for 20% of greenhouse gas emissions, costing more than $100B per year.

2020: Energy Star Certification Updated Guide

In 2020 Energy Star released an updated guide for verifying Energy Star certifications.

2020: Program Separation for New Construction

In 2020, ENERGY STAR separated single-family and multifamily construction types into their own programs: Single-Family New Construction (SFNC) and Multifamily New Construction (MFNC).

2023: Launch of NextGen Certification

In 2023, a new tier of ENERGY STAR certification, called the ENERGY STAR NextGen Certified Homes and Apartments, will be launched. This new certification uses a baseline of the ENERGY STAR Single-Family and Multifamily certification, with additional requirements such as heat pump water heaters and EV-ready charging capabilities.