Lighting, Appliances, Electronics, Office Equipment, and Windows
More than 21,000 retail stores throughout the United States carry a wide variety of ENERGY STAR qualifying products including lighting, ceiling fans, appliances, electronics, office equipment and windows. ENERGY STAR helps energy efficiency program sponsors work with retailers and manufacturers to coordinate ENERGY STAR messages and ensure that consumers are educated about the importance of making their next purchase an ENERGY STAR.
Building an Effective ENERGY STAR Strategy
Begin the planning process by outlining goals, identifying methods to reach those goals, and determining how you will track progress. Such goals may include:
- Overview of retail initiatives (288KB)
- Qualifying Product Information
Qualified products are available in more than 50 categories for residential and commercial use and are 10-25% more efficient than required by the federal standard while providing top performance and innovative features. Follow this link for product specifications, qualified product lists and ENERGY STAR savings calculators.
- Planning & Evaluation Resources
The following documents provide information to assist you in program planning.
- Partner meetings
EPA and DOE periodically co-host national partner meetings on key sectors of interest to partners. These meetings facilitate networking among retailers, energy efficiency program sponsors, and manufacturers and provides an opportunity to share best practices. In addition, EPA and DOE sponsor meetings with stakeholders to discuss specifications for products in development.
- Partner Activity Search
Search the partner activity database to find out what promotions other partners are conducting to facilitate coordination and have a greater impact on the marketplace.
- Measuring Marketing Impacts: ENERGY STAR CFL Study (547KB)
An informative study for those interested in how signage can be used as a low-cost method for promoting ENERGY STAR qualified products. Describes a controlled test of the impact of various point-of-purchase signage that generated a 15% increase in the sales of ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs.
- Room Air Conditioners 2007 Product Snapshot (2.14MB)
Nearly everything you need to know about the Room Air Conditioner market. Highlights key trends, energy savings potential, current EEPS promotional tactics and the DOE ENERGY STAR program strategy.
- Clothes Washer Product Snapshot — May 2008 (868KB)
A concise summary of key clothes washer market data, including trends, energy savings potential, EEPS promotional tactics, and DOE's ENERGY STAR program strategy. Use this document to enhance your program designs and more quickly and easily obtain internal buy-in and support for your program plans.
Consumer Education & Outreach
Promote ENERGY STAR lighting, appliances, home electronics, and office equipment, as well as best practices such as remodeling with efficiency in mind.
- National Campaigns
ENERGY STAR sponsors national campaigns to increase ENERGY STAR awareness and facilitate creative collaboration between partners. National Campaigns include the Spring Cooling Promotion, Fall Lighting Promotion, Appliance Promotion and the Holiday Electronics Promotion. Each of these market-based promotions is designed to promote a specific product and related best practices.
- Employee breakroom poster (3.53MB) Educate your employees about what they can do at work and home to save energy.
- Product Brochures
ENERGY STAR offers its partners a suite of product brochures, each providing a comprehensive overview of the benefits of choosing ENERGY STAR qualified products when shopping for your home. ENERGY STAR provides templates that you can produce yourself, or, depending on the quantity you need, can send you copies that we have in stock. Contact the ENERGY STAR Hotline at (888) STAR-YES.
- Store locator
Drive traffic to the stores in your service territory that are committed to stocking ENERGY STAR products and educating employees and customers about their benefits. To list stores, contact ENERGY STAR at info@energystar.gov
- Special deals finder
If you would like to list your special offers, such as a rebate, on the ENERGY STAR Web site, contact ENERGY STAR at info@energystar.gov. This resource lets consumers in relevant zip codes know about financial offers in their area.
Retail/Sales Outreach
Team up with retailers in your area to coordinate on sales training, consumer outreach, and special events.
- Retailer partnership agreement (102KB)
Independent retailers that are not ENERGY STAR partners, will need to complete an ENERGY STAR partnership agreement.
- Product templates.
Use the following resources to develop marketing materials and point-of-sale tools to educate consumers and share with participating retailers.
- Sales Training
Most purchase decisions are made in the store where consumers can talk with a salesperson and interact directly with a variety of products. To help bring the message of energy efficiency, educate sales associates in your service territory on the benefits of ENERGY STAR.
Financing & Special Deals
Offer ENERGY STAR financing or incentives/rebates for ENERGY STAR qualified products to encourage your customers to consider incorporating energy efficiency into their homes.