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ENERGY STAR International Partners

EPA has entered into agreements with the following foreign governments to promote specific ENERGY STAR qualified products in their markets. These partnerships are intended to unify voluntary energy-efficiency labeling programs in major global markets and make it easier for partners to participate by providing a single set of energy-efficiency qualifications, instead of a patchwork of varying country-specific requirements. Organizations that partner with our international Partners to sell ENERGY STAR qualified products in other countries are held to the same technical or eligibility requirements as the U.S. program.

EPA is interested in advancing product efficiency globally through international harmonization efforts and is currently working with a number of countries to advocate this. EPA recognizes the cost to manufacturers and partners to participate in voluntary programs and comply with mandatory efficiency requirements, and with governments to monitor these programs and maintain a positive consumer experience with energy efficient products. Therefore, EPA is interested in working with countries, including those that have not signed an ENERGY STAR partnership agreement, to harmonize product energy efficiency metrics and applicable test methods. EPA believes that a program should be tailored to its own market and efficiency levels should be set on a country-by-country basis, due to varying market and technology factors across countries.

Additional opportunities exist to collaborate internationally on the development of effective laboratory infrastructure, which is necessary for program and product quality assurance. Stakeholders interested in working with EPA in a similar manner can contact Kathleen Vokes, EPA, at vokes.kathleen@epa.gov.

Australia Exit ENERGY STAR

In Australia, the ENERGY STAR label is used for office equipment and home electronics.

Contact: Chris Forsman, info@energystar.govt.nz

Canada Exit ENERGY STAR

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is implementing ENERGY STAR in Canada for a broad range of products, including office equipment, consumer electronics, heating and cooling equipment, home appliances, lighting and signage, commercial solid door refrigerators and freezers, and windows, doors, and skylights.

Contact: Ms. Dianna Miller, nrcan.energystar.rncan@canada.ca

European Union Exit ENERGY STAR

U.S. Government has a formal agreement with the European Union to implement the ENERGY STAR program for office equipment for the European markets since 2001. The U.S. government shares the information on a limited number of products that are certified as ENERGY STAR and available in the EU.

Website: http://www.eu-energystar.org Exit ENERGY STAR

Contact: http://www.eu-energystar.org/contactseues.htm Exit ENERGY STAR

European Free Trade Association

Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein are implementing ENERGY STAR for office equipment.

Japan Exit ENERGY STAR

P2 company is implementing ENERGY STAR for office equipment on behalf of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

Contact: Mr.Keisuke Nakamura, nakamura-keisuke@meti.go.jp  and Ms. Junko Narita, narita@p2company.co.jp

New Zealand Exit ENERGY STAR

The New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) is responsible for the ENERGY STAR Program in New Zealand which includes the following products: office equipment (computers, monitors/displays, printers), consumer electronics (including televisions), compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), integral light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, luminaires, heat pumps, central heating, gas space heaters, residential dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators/freezers, and windows and solar water heaters. 

Contact: Chris Forsman, info@energystar.govt.nz

Switzerland Exit ENERGY STAR

The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) is currently implementing ENERGY STAR for office equipment.

Contact: Mihaela Grigorie, Mihaela.Grigorie@bfe.admin.ch

Taiwan Exit ENERGY STAR

Weatherrisk Explore Inc. is implementing ENERGY STAR for office equipment on behalf of the Environmental Protection Administration of Taiwan.

Contact: Mr. Long Chen, long@weatherrisk.com ; Mr. Chengting Lin, chengting.lin@epa.gov.tw

International Labeling Requirements for ENERGY STAR Qualified Products

Bilateral agreements between EPA and foreign governments delineate program responsibilities to promote, monitor, and enforce ENERGY STAR in their markets. Regardless of where a product is manufactured, sold, and/or promoted, any use of the ENERGY STAR mark must comply with the ENERGY STAR Brand Book. As part of its ENERGY STAR agreement, each country is required to monitor use of the ENERGY STAR mark.

Within the United States, labeling of qualified models and/or associated materials is a requirement for ENERGY STAR participation. The specific requirements for each product category are outlined in the product-specific Partner Commitments. Only partners with qualified models who have otherwise met their partnership obligations (from labeling to submittal of annual unit shipment data) are displayed/promoted on the ENERGY STAR website. EPA and DOE undertake substantial efforts to monitor the application and use of the ENERGY STAR registered mark and to ensure that partners are fulfilling the participation requirements. These efforts include monitoring print advertisements, websites and domain names, in-store use, and print article content. Failure to comply with any of the ENERGY STAR requirements may result in suspension or termination of an organization's ENERGY STAR Partnership Agreement.

Labeling Requirements by Country/Region PDF (87KB)

Labeling of ENERGY STAR qualified office equipment is mandatory in some ENERGY STAR international partner countries and strongly encouraged in others, because of the global nature of these products. Use of the ENERGY STAR mark includes placement on the top or front of the qualified products, on product packaging, in product literature and box inserts, and on partner websites.

Third-Party Certification Requirements with International Partners

Since January 1, 2011, EPA has required products, destined for the US market, to be tested for qualification in an EPA-recognized laboratory and certified as meeting the ENERGY STAR requirements by a third-party certification program. We believe that these changes to the ENERGY STAR program strengthen the procedures to better ensure that products bearing the ENERGY STAR label, in fact, meet the ENERGY STAR criteria. For further information, resources, and questions, please visit ENERGY STAR Laboratory Resources.

EPA is aware of that many of our international partner programs are making similar changes, where it makes sense for their markets. Other partners are continuing to recognize partners’ self declaration that their products meet efficiency requirements.