ENERGY STAR Certification 2023 Updates

The ENERGY STAR® rating system is a certification program run by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE), meant to encourage energy efficiency in products and commercial, industrial and residential properties.

In 2023, the agencies made some changes to the ENERGY STAR certification requirements for appliances, and they may affect your decisions when purchasing new appliances for your home. The following guide will help you prepare for the change so you can make the smartest choices for both the environment and your wallet.

Products that meet the standards set by ENERGY STAR benefit from long-term cost savings compared to conventional products that do not meet the criteria. What that means is that these products save you more money over time than their non-certified counterparts, even if upfront costs are similar or more. Plus, some ENERGY STAR certified appliances can qualify homeowners to receive tax credits. Looking for products with this rating is a key part of creating a more energy efficient home.

In 2023, the ENERGY STAR certification requirements for efficiency were updated in several categories. What does this mean for your own home appliances?

Some of the appliances affected by the ENERGY STAR updates include:

Air source heat pumps, ducted central AC
Ductless heat pumps and AC
Washing machines
Dryers
Computer monitors
Refrigerators
Dehumidifiers
Dishwashers
Air purifiers
Ventilating fans

According to this update to ENERGY STAR, most efficient 2023 appliances will cut energy usage anywhere from 10% to upwards of 85% per year compared to the pre-established state and federal minimums.See Disclosure ¹

What energy efficiency standards should you look for in your next purchase?

Looking for the ENERGY STAR certification is the first step to incorporating energy efficiency into your home. You don’t have to look much further than Best Buy to do this, either—we were named the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for 2023, for the tenth year in a row.

If you plan to buy or upgrade your household appliances, Best Buy offers a wide selection of appliances and electronics that can meet the energy rating updates. Here’s an overview of a few products that meet the ENERGY STAR requirements.

ENERGY STAR refrigerator.

The latest ENERGY STAR ratings for refrigerators require an Annual Energy Consumption (AEC) of less than or equal to 637 kWh per year. There are numerous ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator options for any style or size refrigerator you’re looking for. Choose a brushed steel or stainless steel finish for a modern look or stick with the classic white. You can also find the simple top-freezer style, side-by-side refrigeration and freezing doors or upgrade to a larger French door-style fridge with a spacious bottom pull-out freezer drawer.

ENERGY STAR air dishwasher.

A dishwasher with an ENERGY STAR rating makes it possible to conveniently wash multiple dishes while saving resources, since the recent update to the standards for dishwashers includes less power usage and less water usage. When you’re shopping for an energy efficient dishwasher, you’ll find a range of colors and finishes plus sizing and control panel options. There are even models with advanced features like double drawers and triple wash settings, all still within the guidelines of ENERGY STAR.

ENERGY STAR dehumidifier.

Dehumidifying a space is not only good for maintaining personal comfort indoors—it’s also necessary in moist climates for preventing mold and mildew. ENERGY STAR rated dehumidifiers do the work with less energy consumption. Choose from capacities like 20 pints for a smaller space, such as a bedroom, 30 pints and 35 pints for a more medium space or up to 50 pints for larger and heavier-duty jobs like a basement. Some are equipped with touchpads for easy operating and multiple fan speeds for easily customizing your settings.

ENERGY STAR air purifier.

Like with dehumidifiers, you can find a whole range of energy efficient air purifiers with different selections of colors, sizes and power settings when you upgrade to an ENERGY STAR certified air purifier. Choose one that can be controlled by a smartphone app, find one that does its work silently or pick a HEPA-certified purifier for maximum output and a smaller environmental footprint.

ENERGY STAR air conditioners.

Cool your living space while conserving energy. Find an AC with an ENERGY STAR rating and enjoy modern features like smart technology, quieter and more effective cooling and multiple square footage options to accommodate the size of the space you’re looking to use it in. Pair it with an ENERGY STAR smart thermostat and you’ll eventually start to save money for the long haul compared to older conventional climate control options.

Building a smart home with ENERGY STAR certified electronics.

In addition to household appliances, there are also plenty of electronics and smart home devices that are ENERGY STAR rated. Making your home a smart home is already an energy-efficient way to live; making sure that the smart devices you use are ENERGY STAR products can take it to a whole new level.

Create a smart home theater setup using an ENERGY STAR TV and sound bar. You can also install smart lightbulbs that are ENERGY STAR certified to set the mood right from your phone while saving on energy costs.

And you can even make your home office or gaming setup more energy efficient with ENERGY STAR computer monitors, laptops, printers and tablets.

Cut costs and consumption with ENERGY STAR.

Switching to more efficient appliances is just a small step toward creating a greener future, but it’s worth the effort to look for appliances and electronics that help chip away at the larger energy footprint. With so many certified products available, it’s easy to build the cost-saving, energy-conserving home of your dreams.

References.

1. Bailey, Ann. “Review of ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2023 Final Criteria Memo.” Office of Air and Radiation, United States Environmental Protection Agency. September 26, 2022. https://www.energystar.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/ENERGY%20STAR%20Most%20Efficient%202023%20Final%20Criteria%20Memo_3.pdf.