# Energy Star Certification: When It's Required and What It Actually Takes

Energy Star is a joint EPA and DOE voluntary program — but voluntary doesn't mean optional in practice. US government procurement mandates Energy Star for many product categories. Major retailers use it as a listing filter. And in some states, minimum efficiency standards track Energy Star specifications. Here's how the program works, what the process involves, and when you actually need it.


## Transcript

### Voluntary in law. Mandatory in practice.

Energy Star is a US federal program run by the EPA and DOE. Technically it's voluntary — no law requires it for most categories. But procurement mandates it, retailers use it as a listing filter, and states tie efficiency rules to it. It's rarely optional.

### How Energy Star works

Energy Star covers 75-plus categories, from computers to refrigerators. A product must meet its category's efficiency spec for active, sleep, and standby modes, tested by an EPA-recognized lab. Submit results, sign a Partnership Agreement, and get listed within weeks.

### Should you pursue it for your product?

Check whether your category has an active Energy Star spec at energystar.gov. If so, see whether your energy data qualifies and add the test to your lab campaign. The program is free — you only pay for testing — and government sales depend on it.

Tags: Energy Star, US compliance, energy efficiency, EPA, DOE