by Wendy Roltgen

Created on: October 15, 2009   Last Updated: October 22, 2009

Your home is your haven. It serves as a peaceful escape at the end of a busy day and a place where some of life's greatest moments are enjoyed. But many American homes also have a dark secret. American homes are one of the key contributors to global warming. In fact, the typical home in America produces twice the greenhouse gas emissions as an average car.

To help combat growing greenhouse emissions in America, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed the Energy Star program in 1992. Since its introduction, Energy Star has become the most trusted authority on energy-efficient appliances. Today, the mission of Energy Star remains focused on identifying and promoting the energy-efficiency of products with the goal of reducing gas emissions.

The efforts by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and their Energy Star program have made a difference. In fact, in 2008 alone Energy Star helped Americans reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to those released by 29 million cars and saved an estimated $19 billion in utility bills.

Energy Star now covers over 60 product categories for the home and office. The reach of Energy Star has broadened from home appliances to cover construction on new homes, commercial equipment, computers, home electronics and industrial products. Schools and office buildings can also participate in Energy Star programs to help reduce their global gas emissions and energy costs.

Along with the Energy Star label, when shopping for home appliances be sure to reference the EnergyGuide label. The EnergyGuide label is required by the Federal Trade Commission on most home appliances. The labels feature the annual consumption figures for kilowatt-hours for electricity and therms for gas appliances as well as the estimated annual cost. When shopping for appliances online, many retailer websites include the EnergyGuide label along with product information to help make comparison shopping easier.

Investment in Energy Star Appliances Pays Off in the Long-Term

Although Energy Star appliances cost more initially, the amount of money saved on energy bills typically provides a greater return on investment over the life of a product. An Energy Star appliance that costs $50 more to purchase than one that is not Energy Star qualified may cost $20 less per year to operate. In just three years time, you would have made up the cost difference and potentially save $150 over the 10-year life of the product. So in the long run, the Energy

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