Energy Efficiency Measures, Scoring, and Identification Methods
In an effort to promote energy savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, various countries have implemented energy efficiency standards, ratings, and labeling systems. These systems, which often apply to buildings, appliances, vehicles, and ships, can be mandatory or voluntary.
Key examples include:
- ENERGY STAR, a voluntary labeling program run by the U.S. EPA, identifies energy-efficient products, homes, and appliances. It started with homes in 1995 and has since expanded to cover multiple components like lighting and insulation.
- The Home Energy Rating System (HERS), widely used in the U.S. housing market, evaluates home energy efficiency and projected energy costs.
- Green Globes, a green building certification system derived from the UK’s BREEAM but with lower barriers to entry, focuses on sustainable building product certifications.
- The Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), are mandatory standards requiring ships to measure and improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
- Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and Energy Efficiency Labeling, such as in Ghana, enforce appliance compliance through regulatory frameworks and inform consumers about the minimum performance of regulated appliances.
Europe, the U.S., China, and other regions combine such standards with renewable energy and carbon neutrality commitments, influenced also by international agreements like the Paris Agreement.
In the European Union, the European Product Database for Energy Labelling (EPREL) was introduced in 2019 for registering electrical appliances sold in the EU. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are used for private properties, while the Building Energy Rating Certificate (BER) from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) explains the A-G rating required when selling or renting out a dwelling.
Australia and New Zealand have created an integrated Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) programme for efficiency standards and labelling for equipment and appliances. The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) in Australia is based on the Residential Efficiency Scorecard from Victoria, awarding stars based on energy usage for heating or cooling.
In the Republic of Ireland, the SEAI's website provides a table of cost-savings for higher ratings. In the UK, Display Energy Certificates (DECs) are required for public buildings to improve energy efficiency and provide transparency about energy use. EECA in Australia and New Zealand provides guides for rating appliances and assessing suitable heat pumps and air-conditioning units.
Chile's Law on Energy Efficiency (CLEE) is still in the process of finalisation but is expected to require buildings to perform mandatory checks on efficiency and emission levels. South Africa requires property owners to have their properties assessed and meet D-rating standards by 2023, according to the South African Accreditation System (SANAS). The scale ranges from A (most efficient) to G.
Japan's Energy Saving Label Program is a two-part system for household electronics, featuring a mandatory 5-star rating and a voluntary green or red 'e' mark. EnerPHit, a certification for retrofits that incorporate Passivhaus components, achieves up to a 90% reduction in energy demand for heating.
These programs are part of broader climate and energy strategies to curb energy use and emissions in line with national and international targets. The goal is to reduce energy consumption, lower emissions, and guide consumers and industries towards efficient technologies.
- The Energy Saving Label Program in Japan, similar to the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) used in the European Union, is designed to reduce energy consumption and lower emissions, aligning with the country's broader climate and energy strategies.
- Both the Green Globes green building certification system and the ENERGY STAR labeling program, which originated in the U.S., focus on promoting energy efficiency, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the finance industry's sustainability initiatives, as well as the education-and-self-development sector's efforts in fostering awareness about energy conservation.
