PickGlobe
This guide is for anyone shopping for an appliance, bulb or air conditioner who wants to know what the label means. The little blue square shows up on fridges, bulbs and air conditioners. What happened before it got there?
Per the US EPA's page (February 2, 2024), a product must reach energy efficiency levels set by the EPA. More than 75 product types can qualify, from appliances and electronics to lighting and heating and cooling equipment. The page said 70,000 models were able to call themselves ENERGY STAR certified at the time.
Quick answer
- To earn ENERGY STAR a product must meet efficiency levels set by the US EPA, be tested in an EPA-recognized laboratory and have its results reviewed by an EPA-recognized certification body.
- Certified models may later be picked for off-the-shelf testing.
- The blue ENERGY STAR label and the yellow EnergyGuide label are different labels.
Three steps
- Testing in an EPA-recognised laboratory, and for some products proof of no performance trade-off. The page's example: LED bulbs must save energy without losing brightness or light quality.
- Review of the results by an EPA-recognised certification body, an impartial third party. Both labs and certification bodies must be accredited to international standards.
- Post-market checks. Certified models in each category may be picked for additional "off-the-shelf" testing.
ENERGY STAR and EnergyGuide are different labels
| ENERGY STAR | EnergyGuide | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | Managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) |
| What it is | A blue, square label that designates highly efficient products | A yellow sticker or tag that estimates a product's annual energy use and operating cost |
| Use it to | Spot the more efficient products | Compare similar models' energy use in the store |
The EPA says the EnergyGuide dollar figure is an estimate of yearly operating cost based on the national average cost of electricity, and that your costs will depend on your local rates and your type of energy. It also says manufacturers sometimes build the ENERGY STAR mark into the EnergyGuide label, and that the two labels can be used together: ENERGY STAR to find the efficient options, then EnergyGuide to compare your top choices.
What to check before you buy
- Look for the ENERGY STAR mark on the product page or box, and look the model up in the ENERGY STAR Product Finder, which the EPA says lists the products that have earned the label.
- Read the EnergyGuide figures to compare similar models, remembering the cost is a national-average estimate.
- Neither label says how much you will save in your own home.
Related guides
Last checked: 21 October 2026. General information, not legal, medical or financial advice. Sources: EPA ENERGY STAR, What makes a product ENERGY STAR certified? (page dated 2 February 2024; read 21 October 2026); EPA ENERGY STAR, What's the difference between the Energy Guide and ENERGY STAR? (page dated 2 February 2024; read 21 October 2026).
