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Guidelines for Energy Service and Product Providers

Here are some basic guidelines for Energy Service and Product Providers to ensure you communicate accurately about ENERGY STARs and how you are working with us.

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992 as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products, in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and to complement its ENERGY STAR partnership program. EPA partnered with the US Department of Energy (DOE) in 1996 to promote the ENERGY STAR label, with each agency taking responsibility for particular product categories. ENERGY STAR has expanded to cover new homes, most of the buildings sector, residential heating and cooling equipment, major appliances, office equipment, lighting, home electronics, and more. ENERGY STAR is a registered “service mark,” the use of which is controlled by ENERGY STAR to protect the integrity of the “brand,” so consumers can shop with confidence.

Logo Guidelines

Make sure you use the correct logo and abide by the Identity Guidelines.

Our lawyers require that anyone using ENERGY STAR logos or “marks” observes these guidelines to protect the integrity of the ENERGY STAR “brand.”

This logo or “mark” is the only logo you can use. It’s called the “ENERGY STAR Linkage Phrase Mark”.

Placement of the Linkage Phrase Mark

The “mark” may be used on any promotional materials that feature ENERGY STAR (for example, retail circulars, point-of-purchase displays, sales materials, T-shirts and hats, company-owned cars and vans, etc.) In advertisements, it is preferred that the mark appear at the top or bottom of the ad along with the advertiser’s name.

More importantly, the mark must never be associated with any specific product models.

Only the “certification mark” may be used for this purpose. If multiple models are featured in an advertisement, and some of them do not meet the ENERGY STAR specifications, the linkage phrase mark may be used to indicate that ENERGY STAR qualified models are available without specifically identifying them. The mark should be placed at the top or bottom of the ad, or in some other general location that is not product-specific. The linkage phrase mark must never appear on qualified products (including product packaging), homes, or buildings.

Finally, the mark should not be used to denote or imply ENERGY STAR partnership or EPA/DOE endorsement of an organization and its products or services.

Correct Usage of Linkage Phrase Mark

The Linkage Phrase Mark may be used to promote ENERGY STAR in advertisements, promotional materials, Web sites, letterhead, fax cover sheets, business cards, and other similar stationery. It should be placed in promotional materials in a general location that is not product-specific.

Incorrect Usage of Linkage Phrase Mark

The Linkage Phrase Mark cannot be used on any product, home, or building. It cannot be used to imply that any product, service, or organization has met the ENERGY STAR performance criteria. And it cannot be used to denote ENERGY STAR partnership or endorsement.

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How to answer the question “Ask about ENERGY STAR?”

If one of your customers and/or potential customers asks you about ENERGY STAR, here is an appropriate answer, followed by some detail:

ENERGY STAR is a dynamic government/industry partnership that makes it easy for businesses and consumers to save money and protect the environment.

Specifically for the small business owners you help to join ENERGY STAR:

They Get:

What They Do:

  • Consider voluntarily upgrading the efficiency of facility systems and equipment when it’s profitable, and maintains or improves “quality” and comfort
  • Consider purchasing ENERGY STAR labeled products when planning to buy or replace office equipment

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How to describe your work with ENERGY STAR

Because Energy Service and Product Providers do not have to sign anything to work with ENERGY STAR, it is important that they do not imply that they have a formal partnership with ENERGY STAR.

Energy Service and Product Providers provide an invaluable service by helping ENERGY STAR promote energy efficiency to the consumer marketplace. Therefore, you may describe your relationship as:

“a company helping ENERGY STAR promote energy efficiency to the consumer marketplace”

OR

“a company working with ENERGY STAR to help promote energy efficiency”

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